Seeking Superiority
When you seek to prove yourself as superior to others, you are on your way to inviting sin into your life. That also invites jealousy which is superiority’s sin partner. If you want a scriptural example you need look no further than King Saul and David. Saul became very jealous of David, mainly because of a chorus people were singing about him ... 1 Samuel 18:8 explains, “Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. ‘They have credited David with tens of thousands,’ he thought, 'but with me only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?'"’ Tragically King Saul’s competitiveness led him to seek David’s life. As Ecclesiastes 4:4 explains, “And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Unfortunately many people, including some Christians, are competing with others including their spouses, siblings, co-workers, neighbors, and more. All in the effort to rank above them in the order of life; but to what end? You aren’t impressing God. Humility is a trait that doesn’t come very easily to some folks. They feel the need to be the top dog. But actively seeking to prove superiority over others leads to sinfulness (James 3:16) *.
One thing I am NOT talking about is becoming better than others in a sporting endeavor; however, that can still involve unhealthy compromises. God must continue to be your focal point, not what you are doing. Striving to be your best in a sport for the sake of being the best you can be in that sport is nothing more than creating healthy competition with your opponents. Having a proper attitude regarding winning comes into play here and is an important part of our witness as believers in Christ. Win, lose or draw, we are to keep a humble spirit and congratulate those who have beaten us fair and square. It’s called exhibiting good sportsmanship. Being a sore loser tells others where your heart is at.
Rather than competing with each other as Christians, God calls us to love one another. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). There is no eternal value in being first or last in anything. Your achievements here on earth will mean nothing in heaven. One of our goals is to not allow our awards and/ or achievements to mean too much to us.
If you focus on living according to the standards the Lord has laid out for you to follow throughout scripture your life will change dramatically. Living for Christ involves what amounts to a ‘dirty’ word to a lot of people, and that word is SURRENDER. We need to become His disciple. Sacrifice your own will which has been infiltrated by worldly choices, in favor of God’s will, which is always fair, always just, and always right. Life isn’t a game. It’s serious, serious business where the righteous find eternal peace and those who reject the notion of surrendering, find eternal torment. God loves us and will NEVER fail us, in spite of our own failures that we lay before Him. Don’t choose to seek superiority over others just because you feel you can. There is no lasting benefit to it; plus it’s a sin.
Up next we will take a look at having a rebellious spirit. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible
* James 3:16 (New Living Translation) ... “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”
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