When I was younger my brother and I were in T-ball. During one game he made a hit and ended up on 2nd base. I was up next and made a hit and my brother went around for the winning score. He was celebrated for making the winning run, but I received no acknowledgement for MAKING the hit that got him around the bases. This has stuck with me most of my life because I was so competitive about being first that I didn't realize his name alphabetically came first. Instant downer when I was not even ten years old.
I've always had a competitive nature. I HATE Losing!! I enjoy times when someone tries to push me off track, only for me to come from behind and win anyway. When I was on the swim team at the age of 15, I raced against 17-19 year old swimmers and enjoyed beating them! In a way that is good, but on the other hand, it has put such a competitive spirit in me that even when there is not anything to feel competitive over, I am still competing!
"That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens." Romans 8:18-21
The downside is that a competitive spirit in Christians prevents them from being of service to others because the focus is on themself and not God. When I put my focus on myself, I become very critical of myself and will continue to put myself down until I have completely lost sight of my goal. When I lose sight of my goal, that is when I let my problems and people causing me problems to live rent free in my head, when there should only be Jesus or God in my head. That is when I lose my value or self worth. If only that I had waited for God's response and timing, my situation could have been resolved easier. Jesus is not competing for space in your head or heart, nor mine. God can wait on you, but is more prone to hold one back so the focus is on Him and what He can bring.
"Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." 2 Timothy 2:23-24
In 2 Timothy 2:24, we are all instructed not to be quarrelsome (aka competitive) but be kind to everyone and teachable. The easiest solution to jumping into foolish and stupid arguments is to stay off Facebook! If there is a quarrel going on while the teacher is teaching, the people in the quarrel will not get full understanding of the point the teacher is trying to make simply because they are focused on the problem and not the solution that THE Teacher is giving. Not sure about you, but I am easily distracted, and a fight or quarrel around me will definitely keep me from learning anything. When I write blogs, I am in a quiet area if possible. Or I make my area quiet by putting on headphones with Christian or Classical music.
The Father and Jesus, just wants us to be calm through the times when you would rather argue and be kind and teachable instead of fighting about everything, walking away mad and learning nothing. Keeping calm and not reacting has always been a very difficult for thing for me to do, BUT I am learning, with God's help.
Father, create in me a kind and listening heart. Keep me on your path and teach me how to walk and talk more like Jesus would have me do. I repent of the times where I argued and hated you instead of just being calm and realizing YOU had it under control the whole time. Thank you for giving me another chance to be with you in Heaven. Thank you for Jesus, who was mistreated to death here on earth, but loves us anyway. Thank you for working with me on keeping my mouth shut and keeping my focus more on your teachings. In Jesus Name, Amen
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