I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m a competitive spirit. I love trying to win a good debate. Heck, I’ll even argue a position I don’t believe just for the competition and seeing how I do. Call me the devil’s advocate.
I think there’s a place for that sort of competition, but only if both parties come out better at the end. The truth should ultimately surface. Both parties should ultimately learn more from the encounter. That’s the true benefit of competition. Nobody should lose.
Unfortunately, competition doesn’t really work like that in the real world. Instead, it seems like for you to win, others have to lose. Think of it like the proverbial pizza pie at the family dinner. If your siblings get three pieces, you’ll only get two. You lose.
I don’t believe the world needs to work like that though. I think it’s the default position for humanity to live in competition with each other, but you don’t have to live at that level.
Competition comes from a scarcity mentality. It’s the idea that we’re all just dogs sitting around the dinner table, hoping our master drops some scraps. A few crumbs fall here and there, then we fight over who gets them.
The thing is, our Master doesn’t give out scraps. He doesn’t see us as starving dogs who get in the way of His meal. We’re His prize. He takes care of us. He has something unique and wonderful planned for all of us.
We just have to stop fighting over one bowl of food. (Still on that dog illustration.)
I find whenever it feels like I’m fighting over scraps, I’m looking in the wrong place.
God has something unique for you. And you embracing His goodness won’t mean someone else has to lose. You can enjoy and let others enjoy too.
The thing is, the natural tendency when you find something good that no one else has seen, people will try to come and take it from you. It’s kind of like the kid who sees a cool lizard on the ground, then all his friends gather around and push him out where he can no longer see. But that’s okay. There’s more to see elsewhere.
You just have to be willing to move onto the next good thing.
Stop fighting over scraps. You can let others fight over your leftovers, but you need to look for the new things God has for you. Life isn’t a competition. Nobody has to lose. Don’t get sucked into that mentality.