Skip to main content

Friend, or Competition?

I have a little food for thought from one of Greg Matte's sermons on "The Need for Companionship" from his Genesis series.

We live in a very competitive culture and I think that we end up seeing people as competition to be beat instead of companions to be met...and to be loved and to be cared for.

"Well, if you're pretty, well I'm going to be a little bit prettier. If you dress good, then I'm going to dress a little better. If you're smart, I'm a little bit smarter. If you're successful, I'm a little bit more successful. If you're spiritual, I'm a little bit more spiritual. If I'm just a little bit ahead of you and I can compete and win, then we can be friends, but I have to establish I win first because of the competitive culture we live in."
People are not competition, they're people and so we can interact with them and come around them and allow them to relate as we're transparent in our lives.

Sound familiar to anyone? I think we are all guilty of this (myself included - not trying to play innocent here) - some to a much deeper extent than others, and some in a very subconscious way. I do agree our culture has lead people this way. I hate it. I may be guilty of it as well, but competition, in general, scares the hell out of me. It is something I'd rather not have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Yes, there is certainly a time and place for competition, and I'm very competitive with myself when it comes to a place where I have the potential to better myself, but gees - imagine a world where we could truly love our friends for who they are, not for how good their faults or inadequacies make us look.
Labels:

Comments

Love and Puppies, Christy said…
I agree with you, but for me at least, it's not a blanket statement that I am competitive with everyone. I am competitive with some people about some things...and with those people, about those things, I CANNOT fail or it will be tragic.

Unfortunately, my high school nemesis, Jacqueline, is still pretty and it makes me absolutely freaking insane.
March 24, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Amy said…
Greg's message is right on target with Beth Moore's new book, So Long Insecurity. Just this morning I came across this passage that she quotes from The Message, Galatians 5:21 "...the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival..." Her discussion draws parallels to the fact that we view contendors through a one dimensional lense rather than as a person. All because its easier to despise someone that way.

Ouch. I'm more guilty than I like admitting.
March 24, 2010 at 11:25 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ironman in verse

This is what I wrote and secretly put under everyone's doors tonight: The big day is almost here! Long it will be, but have no fear. You have put in miles and miles And will finish amidst numerous smiles. The hard work is over and done. Now is the time for nothing but fun. May your spirits be high throughout the day, And may nothing come along to stand in your way. Ironman is as much about the journey as the destination, And you will be rewarded for all of your determination. Hand-in-hand we will all jump in, Eagerly treading water as we wait to begin. At 7am the cannon will blast But be sure not to go out too fast. The cool water will run over your face, As you are now committed to the race. The Rural Bridge will seem so far away But keep those negative thoughts at bay. Once you turn around and head west To the Mill Ave. Bridge you go, trying your best. 2.4 miles will be over before you know it, And you will start to realize your thoughts of Iron are truly legit. On to the bike, f...
21 comments
Read more

We did it!

21 comments
Read more

Getting To Know You

Alright, time for a little "comment love" - a term used in the blogging world meaning, quite simply, "leave a comment!" I can see I have readers from all over the world (look at the little map a little way down on the right), obviously with the highest concentration being from this area, but I don't know who you are! (Most of you at least!). I'd love to know a little about who is reading my blog, what you like what you don't like, where you are from, etc. Anyone can comment at any time - you don't have to have a blogger or google profile. Just click on the "x comments" link below any post (x is the number of existing comments on any one post), then a box will pop up letting you type the comment. If you have a google/blogger profile you can use that, but if not, you can just click "anonymous", but be sure to sign your name or nickname or whatever with your comment. P.S. If you don't want to tell me much about yourself, or I al...
17 comments
Read more