The Challenge of Competition 1/23

I Must Win 2/23

I Must Be First 3/23

I Must Be Ahead & Above Others 4/23

Different I Must Be Different from others 5/23

I must be the most successful… 6/23

Competition Creates Tension And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. [Luke 22:24] 7/23

Competition Creates Division And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. [Matthew 10:24] 8/23

How should we respond and live biblically in a competitive society? 9/23

1) Live by a Different Set of Standards 10/23

Society’s Standards / Practices Exercise Lordship [Lord Over Others] And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. [Luke 22:25] 11/23

Kingdom’s Standards / Practices Exemplify Servanthood [Serve Others] But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. [Luke 22:26] 12/23

13/23

14/23

Loser Winner 15/23

2) Emulate the Example of Christ 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as He that serveth. 28 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. [Luke 22:27-28] 16/23

3) Complement Instead of Compete 17/23

Eve Adam 18/23 Created to Complement, not Compete

COMPETITIONvsCOMPLEMENTATION 19/23

Ketchup Salt French fries COMPETITIONvsCOMPLEMENTATION 20/23

COMPLETE vs COMPETE Instead of having a Piece of the Whole 21/23

Be a Part of the Whole COMPLETE vs COMPETE 22/23

Triune Godhead Working With Each Other vs Working Against Each Other Son HolySpirit Father

The Challenge of Comparison

1) He Patterns His Life After Christ

1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base [timid] among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh [2 Corinthians 10:1-2]

1) He Patterns His Life After Christ 2) He Relies on God’s Wisdom & Power & Power

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled [2 Corinthians 10:3-6]

1) He Patterns His Life After Christ 2) He Relies on God’s Wisdom & Power & Power 3) He Seeks to Build Others Up

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us [Authority is from the Lord] for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. [2 Corinthians 10:7-11]

A) Comparison is Not Wise 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Comparison is Rooted in Pride

SINSIN Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall

PR I DE Pride come before a fall

Comparison Creates Complexes A) Superiority Complex

Comparison Creates Complexes A) Superiority Complex B) Inferiority Complex

Comparison Leads to Discontentment

When You Stop Comparing

You Also Stop Complaining

Comparison Creates Envy / Jealousy

Comparison Creates Tension

Comparison Creates Division

How to Overcome the Temptation of Comparison

A) Accept Who You Are

How to Overcome the Temptation of Comparison A) Accept Who You Are B) Accept Your Lot in Life