Spiritual Competition

Thanks to Adam’s and Eve’s sin in the garden, survival on earth became much harder, with mankind having to work to get their food.  As a result of that sin mankind’s nature changed, and they became selfish.  Competition for food or mate or control of an area became part of the human experience, and today competition is apparent in almost everything people do.  They may compete for jobs, for mates, for housing, for fame, or political power, for sports championships, or for control of a gang, a business, or a religious organization.  

As we see in Matthew 18:1, Jesus disciples still had that same competitive nature.  “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  Mark 9:33-34 tells us there had been some argument over who would be the greatest.   “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?  But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.”  They asked Jesus who would be the greatest in heaven.   It was like asking what the rules were so they could know how to win. 

His answer in Matthew 18:2-4 completely destroys the idea of competition.  “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  He said that unless one was changed, developing an attitude like a little child, a person would not even get into heaven.  The greatest one would be the one with the most childlike attitude.    At first the child has no hesitation about sharing, but as he grows he becomes increasingly selfish and self-willed.   The greatest in heaven will be those who are least concerned about themselves and their own benefit. 

With our competitive attitudes, we begin to set some above others, picking some for our team and ignoring others.  In Matthew 18:5-7 Jesus warned against such an attitude.  “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” 

They are God’s people.  If we accept them as such, we are honoring God.  When we refuse to accept them, and turn them away, we dishonor God.  Paul addressed this same issue in I Corinthians 12.  In I Corinthians 12:18-23, he wrote, “ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.   Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.”

God places the members in the local church according to his plan.  When we begin to treat them as inferior or drive them away, we indicate we are better qualified to decide who should be in the church than He is, and we will face his Judgment for the way we have offended them.  People are going to get offended and turn away from time to time, but we need to make sure we are not causing them to.  Romans 14:12-13 reminds us, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”   We need to remember God is the judge and we will be judged for our own actions.  

Instead of judging others, we need to judge ourselves, as Matthew 18:8-11makes very clear.  “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.  For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”

Christ came to save those who were lost.  He is going to hold those who hinder people accountable for hindering them.  It would be better to eliminate anything you cannot bring under control, whether it is a wandering eye, looking at other men or women; an addiction to porn; covetousness; addiction to alcohol or drugs leading you to bars or dealers or whatever else it might be, including your attitude toward other Christians, even if it requires a physical action such as amputating a leg or removing one’s eyes to stop.    Forget about competing with others, and concentrate on pleasing God yourself, making sure you are pleasing to him.