Christ's Kingdom is Non-Competitive
- By Jon Hagen
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- 01 Mar, 2018
You Have Your Race to Run, and I Have Mine
| I was sitting in church waiting for the service to begin. Eventually, a fellow member I know who has a big personality walked down front to chat with one of the pastors. From the little I know of that man, I was sure he was parading so that everyone in the building could see that he, not any of the rest of us, was "in" with the pastor. And that's important because if you're "in" you win, and if you're not you lose.
I hate that about me--the rush to judgment, the infallible assessment, the mental posturing of putting someone down so that I, if only in my mind, could be lifted up. How smug and how smart I can be. How proud I am of my humility.
There is some degree of solace I get in knowing my perverse way of thinking is common among Jesus' disciples. The thing I don't want to do, I do; the things I ought to do, all too often I don't. The things I accuse others of are the same things of which I am guilty. From the beginning, Peter, John, and their cohort argued among themselves about who would be the greatest in Jesus' kingdom. On more than one occasion Jesus tried to correct that ungodly ambition.
If we'd really listen to Jesus, any number of troubles would resolve by humbly accepting our place and simply focusing on the thing in front of us. For starters,
As a corrective to the selfishly competitive spirit of our flesh, Jesus asked Peter a question as the two of them, along with John, were walking after breakfast one day. At some point during the walk, Peter and Jesus got ahead of John. When Peter looked back and saw John, Peter asked Jesus, "What about John? How is he going to die?" Peter asked this question because Jesus, a short while earlier, had told Peter what Peter's death would entail. So naturally, "What about John?"
Jesus' reply has spared me a lot of time and emotional energy over the years. Just five single syllable words that form an instant, powerful and clarifying antidote to the competitive urge. Jesus asked Peter, regarding John, "What is he to you?"
And that's what I ask myself when a perceived rival crosses my path. It's a habit I'd encourage you to practice. Anytime you find yourself mentally racing against someone, or feel challenged or put down by another, or your ego or identity are threatened in some way, ask yourself, "What is he to you?" Or, "What is she to you?"
Because Christ has no rivals, and under Him neither should we. |
