S4 E11 - Not Everything Is A Competition

I was checking out at CVS Monday and the fellow checking out next to me had his machine in sync with my machine. It felt like a race and we joked about it. In the end I won! Nothing, of course, I won nothing. But I started thinking about how many things in our culture we have turned into a competition. But guess, what? Everything isn't a competition. 

Those in the church especially need to hear this. I have witnessed members competing against each other. Local churches acting as though they are in competition with another local work. Preachers shamefully chasing their own glory and ego and trying to triumph over other preachers. My friends, Kingdom work is NEVER a competition. 

#SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Transcript

What if I told you that God could be seen in the most ordinary things every day? 

What if I told you that every day, ordinary events could teach us extraordinary eternal truths? Would you believe me? 

 Welcome back to season 4 of the Set Your Mind Above Podcast! My name is BJ Sipe, and I am a Christian, a preacher, a husband, and a father. And I’m excited to share a few moments together with you learning some important lessons from the simplest things. Thanks for tuning in! 

Pardon my scratchy voice as we work our way through the podcast today! We had sickness hit our house hard, starting with my wife, then moving to all three of our kids, and finally capping off with me. I was diagnosed with a double ear & sinus infection on Monday, so I was pretty much down for the count the entire first part of this week. Now it’s been playing catch up the past couple days, but I am excited to take some time out to share with you what I believe is one of the most important lessons that the church needs to hear today. To illustrate that lesson, we have to go to CVS. After picking up my antibiotics from our local pharmacist on Monday, I ran over to CVS to get a few more things that I would need. Some Mucinex Sinus Max, some lotion Kleenex for my nose, and a couple of juices that I enjoy. As I shuffled over towards the front to check out, I decided to bypass the line at the counter and just use one of the self-pay stations since I just had a few items. As I walked up to the machine on the right, another gentleman walked up to the other machine on the left and began to scan his items. Suddenly, we found ourselves nearly in sync. “Please scan your first item” our machines said simultaneously. With each consecutive “BOOP” of the scans, we stayed toe to toe with each other. I noticed he started to chuckle, and I glanced over the see him cracking a smile. “Looks like we’re in a race to the finish!” he laughed. “It seems like it!” I replied, “that or we’re attempting to start a brand-new sport: synchronized checkout.” We both laughed and visited back and forth as we concluded our check out process. “Please select your payment,” they said in unison, “use pin pad to complete transaction.” It was neck and neck. But in the end, I pulled out the victory! I grabbed my bag and said, “Looks like I’m the winner!” He grabbed his bag and said, “Indeed! And for your prize…well, I guess nothing!” “Oh, that’s not true,” I said in retort, “check it out!” I held up a typical CVS receipt that is longer than most fire hoses at full extension. We both laughed and said goodbye and I walked back out of the car to head home and curl up in my bed. “Everything’s a competition,” I muttered under my breath as a backed out. At least that certainly seems to be the case in our Western culture. Drivers jockey for position, trying to get around each other or make it through the next light so they can be first home. Oldtimers sit around the campfire and tell stories, each trying to one up the last and outdo one another. Holiday decorations come out, and soon neighbors are locked in close combat on having the most extravagantly decorated house on the block. Gym goers’ eye the person lifting next to them, making sure they are lifting more weight than the next guy. We really have turned everything into a competition sometimes in our Western culture, haven’t we? 

Well, here is a newsflash that we need to remember: not everything is a competition. But my friends, sadly the ones who need to hear this more than anyone else right now are God’s people. I’m going to say this as boldly and bluntly as I am able: Kingdom work is NEVER a competition. And yet, from where I sit, so many times God’s people have turned the work they have been called to do into just that.

Within each local church, our work that we are called to do together as the household of God is NOT a competition. We read in Ephesians 4:15-16, “But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.” God’s work is accomplished when God’s people work together toward a common goal with a common purpose in a common faith. And yet, how often are divisions and factions found within local churches because we have turned our work into a competition? When Paul said to “outdo one another in showing honor,” in Romans 12:10, he didn’t mean to really start competing with each other to see who is the best at this or that act of service. As a matter of fact, he had just warned against thinking too highly or ourselves, and called for us to be united as one body and individually members of one another. If you find yourself in a position that you are “competing” with another in your local church, stop it. You’re not being a servant of God. 

Nor are we in competition with neighboring local congregations. In Ephesians 6:18, we are told, “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” We are called to be busy in prayer for all the saints, and that includes brothers and sisters in Christ that are outside of our local congregations. We should be dedicated to praying for their successful work, labor, and love in Christ – and yet sadly, that is not what I have witnessed often among God’s people. I’ve seen Christians with carpal tunnel from holding on to grudges so tightly they should have long since forgiven. But as a result, rather than praying for other neighboring works and churches, they spend their time spewing poison and hateful words about other works. I’ve witnessed Christians tell me they would never support a lectureship, VBS, or any kind of effort intended to promote the gospel because it was being held at a neighboring church. If you find yourself in this position where you are “competing” with another local church, stop it. You’re not being a servant of God. 

Now it’s time for me to roll up my sleeves and start “meddling” as some would call it. Preachers, now I am talking to you. In absolutely no way, shape, or form is our work in God’s kingdom a competition with other preachers! And I will say this as bluntly and boldly as I can: if this is the way you approach our work in the kingdom, that you are trying to climb some brotherhood ladder to be respected and known amongst men – you seriously need to reconsider why you are doing the work that you’re doing. Sometimes this culture is created by the saints through preacher worship, as I like to call it. The “pastoral model” has destroyed so many good men, swelling their heads and making everything about them. They are praised and paraded – almost worshiped – by God’s people to the point that they start to believe it. Sometimes it’s even more blunt than this. I had a good friend “interview” with a church a few years ago (which, btw, is not a biblical term. Preachers are not employees of a local church, they partner in the gospel alongside of a local church.) At any rate, during this process, he was made aware that they would also be “interviewing” other preachers and asked him, “What makes you better than them? Why should we choose you?” Can you believe that? But sometimes, it’s simply pride, jealousy, and vanity that turn preaching into a competition. I’ve seen some of the most ungodly actions in person and on social media between men who are supposed to be heralds of the gospel, but because of their own ego’s they treated fellow workers as enemies and competitors to be triumphed over.  Every preacher would do well to remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” Don’t worship men. Worship God. And for all my fellow workers in the kingdom who have given their lives to preaching, remember that we are nothing! It is God who gets the glory, God gives the growth, and God whom we serve. We are not in the business of making our name known, only the name of Jesus. If you find yourself in this position where you are “competing” with other preachers, stop it. You’re not being a servant of God.

My friends, the point is simple: Kingdom work is never a competition. Jesus has already given us the victory as he as overcome the world. The question is will we work together for his good will and glory? Or will we bite and devour one another in our own pursuit of glory? If you turn kingdom work into a competition, do you know what you win? Nothing. But if we work together for the purpose and will of our Savior to his glory, do you know what we win? Everything. 

This has been the Set Your Mind Above Podcast, season 4 episode 11 – and I’m so thankful that you decided to tune in today! A new episode is dropped most Fridays, so be sure to tune in next week.  Also, if you’re able to, go ahead and like and subscribe to the podcast, as well as share it with someone else – it would help me greatly in trying to reach others. And more than anything, always remember the following: know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above.