Competition could be described as a legal mean
of contending with another person, for the purpose of winning the person to
one’s advantage.
In this write-up, we want to shed light on the
right perspective of competition. Frantically, there are aspects of life for
which one cannot compete against another person. These aspects are only found
in Christianity: for any other aspects of life, one might need to compete in
order to survive.
We would better narrow
this discussion down to those things that one can and cannot compete for: it is
for the purpose of clarity.
In the Christendom, everyone is considered
important for the survival of another: Hence, the disapproval to compete
against one another.
“But now indeed there
are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I
have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need
of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be
weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less
honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have
greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the
body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should
be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for
one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if
one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it”. (1 Cor 12:20-26, NKJV).
However, the non-competition in the Christendom
only holds within the confines of ministration. Ethically, ministration
progress or privilege is not struggled for, but when it comes to the aspects of
literary competitions: bible quiz and recitations; debates; and other fun-filled
games – everyone is free to compete with each other.
Why ministration does
not permit competition
“Now concerning
spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you
were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore
I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus
accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries,
but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same
God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each
one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the
Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to
another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation
of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to
each one individually as He wills.” (1 Cor 12:1-11, NKJV).
You cannot compete with another person when it
comes to ministration, because you do not have the same abilities with the
other person: the other person cannot compete with you too, because he or she
does not have the abilities that you possess. Everyone is unique in his or her
own way. What make the difference between people in ministrations could only be
how well a person utilises the grace of God upon him or her, how dynamic a
person could be, and how knowledgeable a person is.
If everybody could put those three things to
use, no one would be at the basement of his or her ministry. Yet, there will be
no need for competition, and this is not to say that there will be no need for
leaders and followers to exist: the church is an organised society.
Therefore, the mean to
have progress in the ministry is not competition but:
1.How
a minister utilises the grace of God.
2.How
dynamic the minister is.
3.How
knowledgeable the minister is.
We have only done our part to make you realise
this view that we are holding concerning ministration and competition. You are
free to do what you think is best for you.
However, what God looks at – are your motives
behind all your actions.