Compete Versus Complete

 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” – I Corinthians 3:6

How competitive are you?  Do you know how to compete in the kingdom?  Do you understand that it is about completing each other rather than competing against each other?

“I’m of Paul and another says I’m of Apollos” was the debate that went on among the Corinthians as they argued over who was their favorite Apostle.  I imagine the debate topics must have sounded a little like this: “Which Apostle is more eloquent?” ”Who hears from God the best?” ”Who is the best teacher?” ”Who has the greatest anointing?”  To that argument, the Apostle Paul responded, “This attitude is carnal and not of God. None of us is important, only Christ. We complete each other rather than compete against each other. God will reward each of us individually according to each person’s own labor, and there is enough to go around.”

Without a doubt, there is always competition in the marketplace. It exists not only between profit making enterprises, but also in the Not for Profit sector, including churches.  Our economic policy even encourages competition to avoid the creation of a monopoly.  Our anti-monopoly laws are designed to ensure that no one company has complete control over one sector of the market, a privilege that would enable them to charge whatever price they wanted, because the customers would have no choice but to buy from them.

Though the concept of competition has been abused, and many have employed unethical and sometimes illegal practices to top the competition or gain market dominance, competition can be a good thing.  There are several benefits to competition, including the following:

1. It gives customers a choice
2. It motivates us to do our best
3. It challenges our faith
4. It provides better prices for the customer
5. It removes from the marketplace those who are not called

With so many benefits of competition, the problem then becomes the attitude of those of us who are competing.  Within a competitive environment, we must cultivate an attitude of completion rather than competition.  A competitive attitude believes that there is not enough to go around and views the opponent as an enemy who must be brought down. On the other hand, the spirit of completion believes there is more than enough and sees the opponent as a fellow comrade in the service of customers or a potential soul to be won for Christ.

What are the key differences between a competitive spirit and the spirit of completion?

What about those competitors who do not share our values and employ ungodly methods to harm us? Remember the words of Jesus: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

Are you competing or completing?  Seek God’s wisdom today on how to be a completer in the marketplace.

My prayer for you today is that God will give you the grace to complete others for the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth.