PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 13:10:50 GMT -5
I know I harp on social media, but truly, social media is a cesspool of emulation. We are shown impossible standards of success, popularity, influence, happiness, fruitful ministry, etc (half of which is fake) and then we get depressed because our lives feel deficient in comparison. The only standard we have to meet is the one God gives us.
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PG4Him
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Feb 15, 2019 13:12:57 GMT -5
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 13:12:57 GMT -5
God says that whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Is competition, or rivalry of faith? No, does it resemble love? No, and we are never told to put on this spirit in the bible. Paul does compare us to runners in a race, and he tells to run that we may win. Where’s the dividing line between winning and competing? It’s razor thin.
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Feb 15, 2019 13:39:14 GMT -5
Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 13:39:14 GMT -5
God says that whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Is competition, or rivalry of faith? No, does it resemble love? No, and we are never told to put on this spirit in the bible. Paul does compare us to runners in a race, and he tells to run that we may win. Where’s the dividing line between winning and competing? It’s razor thin. It is a comparison, and how do we win, by finishing the race, and the battle has already been won on calvary, all we have to do is finish the race, we do not compete for it, we rest in it, and if we continue to rest in his salvation, we will walk over the finish line. It is used as a parable. And Paul said in a physical race only one gets the prize, but in this race all get a prize, no rivalry.
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Feb 15, 2019 13:41:37 GMT -5
Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 13:41:37 GMT -5
I think that we are losing a lot of our innocency in a big way, most things have to have some type of superior purpose.
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PG4Him
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Feb 15, 2019 13:50:05 GMT -5
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 13:50:05 GMT -5
I think that we are losing a lot of our innocency in a big way, most things have to have some type of superior purpose. I don’t know what you mean by this.
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PG4Him
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Feb 15, 2019 14:02:53 GMT -5
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 14:02:53 GMT -5
I don’t think we can apply a maxim that healthy competition is a sin. If that was the case, we would have to say no Christian could be a professional athlete, an attorney, a business owner, or a politician. All of those endeavors require the skill to outmaneuver an opponent. It is possible to be objectively better at a task without putting your own self worth in that comparison.
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Post by 2fw8212a on Feb 15, 2019 15:34:14 GMT -5
I think that we are losing a lot of our innocency in a big way, most things have to have some type of superior purpose. I believe all things must have a superior purpose: To honor God.
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." - Philippians 2:3
"...whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things." - Philippians 4:8
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
That is the only (truly) superior purpose I know of.
Blessings in Jesus' name!
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Post by Giller on Feb 16, 2019 0:40:11 GMT -5
By superior purpose I am not saying this in a good way.
It is in the sense for the need for superiority, or having to be exalted.
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Post by Giller on Feb 16, 2019 1:09:47 GMT -5
Here is a scripture to think about:
1Co 10:24 (24) Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Concerning the ways of God, you do not just look out for your own good but for the good of others.
And business wise, the right thing to do, would be to do the best you can in your business, to do your personal best, and your focus should not be on destroying the competition, or even on competing with other businesses, but rather your focus should be on first of all doing all to the glory of God, and trusting God to prosper your business.
Never mind competition, focus more on your customers, and what their needs are, rather than on other businesses.
God is not calling us to be in a rat race with other businesses, but rather he wants us to put pour faith in him.
Sure you can do research on this or that product, but do not seek to operate your business like the world does, but rather the way the Lord wants it to be.
And if you can help out a legitimate business that is struggling out, and you can, being a business owner yourself, then why not help them out, and if people would genuinely help each other out, rather than focusing on destroying the competition, there would be much more businesses open, and less jobs lost.
You can have a business and not have to compete, you can be all kinds of things and not have to compete, competition is a mind set, and you do not see the word competiton associated with love.
Competition is actually a selfish mindset, it is focused on self.
It wants to be exalted.
Here is what the bible says about love:
1Co 13:4-7 (4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Nothing about competition here.
And here are other verses on love:
Mar 12:31 (31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Rom 13:10 (10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Love does not work any ill to his neighbour, in any way, it seeks the good of all, does not seek to destroy the competition, but cares about people, and is not selfishly focused.
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Post by Giller on Feb 16, 2019 1:25:53 GMT -5
God often times uses things as examples in the bible.
1Co 9:25-26 (25) And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (26) I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
In the world of sports, they obtain a corruptible crown, and it is not always certain who is going to win, but concerning the spiritual side of things we obtain an incorruptible crown, and we run with certainty, and in competition there is not always certainty, but in Christ there is.
And sometimes God uses examples in the bible to were it is not always an example of approving this or that, but rather he is trying show us a spiritual truth through an earthly example, and here is one of them:
Luk 18:1-8 (1) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (2) Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: (3) And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. (4) And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; (5) Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. (6) And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. (7) And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (8) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
God is trying to show a spiritual truth here through this example, but he is not trying to approve being a judge that fears not God, but rather he is using this judge as a n example, and not as an approval of being a judge that fears not God.
So let us be careful how we look at God's parables.
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Post by Giller on Feb 16, 2019 1:30:09 GMT -5
And if competition is not selfish, than show this through the bible, and not just by arguments.
Is love and competition compatible? And does the bible show that they are?
That is really my only concern.
I am not concerned about hearing arguments about say competition is ok here but not ok there, that sounds like some type of favoritism argument to me.
I know what competition is all about, I was once a competition nut.
But I am not basing my thoughts, on my likes or dislikes, I just want to glorify God in every way, I do not want to be selfish, I do not want to partake in things that lead to selfishness, I just want God to be glorified, and want to remain humble, that is my true heart.
I do not want to base my thoughts on my feelings, on who I will hurt or not, who's approval I will gain or not, I just want to just simply be honest with God's word, and what he says to put on, to be like, and so forth, that is it.
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Feb 16, 2019 1:38:20 GMT -5
Post by Giller on Feb 16, 2019 1:38:20 GMT -5
And I am not trying to be nasty about things here, just want us to be honest with what God actually says.
Am I for sports, yes, am I for honest enjoyments, yes, but to partake in these things in a good wholesome way.
1Ti 6:17 (17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
He gave us things for our enjoyment, but in an innocent way, while being full of humbleness and humility.
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Feb 16, 2019 2:11:06 GMT -5
Post by Giller on Feb 16, 2019 2:11:06 GMT -5
Gal 5:19-20 (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Here are definitions of the word emulation or emulations:
(Strong's concordance)
(G2205
ζῆλος
zēlos
dzay'-los
From G2204; properly heat, that is, (figuratively) “zeal” (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively of God], or an enemy, malice): - emulation, envy (-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.
Total KJV occurrences: 17)
(Webster's dictionary)
(Emulation
EMULA'TION, n. The act of attempting to equal or excel in qualities or actions; rivalry; desire of superiority, attended with effort to attain to it;
generally in a good sense, or an attempt to equal or excel others in that which is praise-worthy, without the desire of depressing others. Rom 11.
In a bad sense, a striving to equal or do more than others to obtain carnal favors or honors. Val.5.
1. An ardor kindled by the praise-worthy examples of others, inciting to imitate them, or to equal or excel them.
A noble emulation heats your breast.
2. Contest; contention; strife; competition; rivalry accompanied with a desire of depressing another.
Such factious emulations shall arise.)
Here is a definition of the word rivalry:
(answers.com)
(Rivalry 1.# The act of competing or emulating. 2.# The state or condition of being a
rival.)
And one word that would be interesting to look into, is the word impersonate, which would fit well with the the emulation definition that says the act of attempting to equal or excel in qualities and actions, but not in a good way.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 16, 2019 9:35:57 GMT -5
Editing this comment because I see I was confused.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 16, 2019 10:57:28 GMT -5
Okay now with the benefit of coffee I’m thinking this through. We have a few separate issues getting conflated. We have the idea of comparisons (which can be good or bad), being exalted (also good or bad), and besting opponents.
There are times in Scripture when one person is objectively more excellent than another:
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. — Proverbs 31:29-30
And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed–edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful. — 1 Chronicles 15:21-22
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. — Daniel 6:3
So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. — 1 Corinthians 7:38
We can’t pretend that comparisons don’t exist. God identifies them all the time, and God indeed uses them as qualifiers to praise, exalt, or reward people. Cain murdered Abel because God preferred Abel’s sacrifice. Whether we like it or not, there are in fact standards we are measured against.
Paul told us to desire that we may excel:
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. — 1 Corinthians 14:12
Who doesn’t want to hear the words “well done thou good and faithtful servant.” Those who have more will be given more, and those who have less will lose what they had. If we’re not earnest about pursuing excellence, we won’t win that crown. Scripture lays out for us that X is better than Y. We must be careful to avoid the trap of false modesty, where good singers act like they’re not good singers and pretty women act like they’re not really pretty, all in a vain attempt to keep from seeming boastful.
Scripture encourages us that God will exalt us:
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time — 1 Peter 5:6
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. — Luke 14:11
Exaltation is the inevitable result of pleasing God. He exalted Joseph, Moses, Esther, Daniel, etc. So we can’t say it’s a sin to end up being exalted.
The difference comes down to two things: trying to exalt ourselves and trying to judge our own value by competing with others. Was the woman in Proverbs 31 trying to exalt herself? She pursued excellence above her peers, and she was praised for it. It isn’t a sin to be better at something.
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