Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat

Here we are, Friday and ready to head into the weekend. For most men we look forward to participating in our favorite sport or at least watching it on TV or from the stands. Many of us will go watch our children play some kind of sport. We Americans love competition. General Patton once said, "American love the sting of battle. We love to win and hate to loose." I think that is true. So before you head off to that encounter with competition, let me give you some things to reflect on.

As I see it there are two goals in competing.

First Goal of COMPETITION is to WIN.
1 Corinthians 9:24 GNB 24 Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize.
I never enter any competition with the though of loosing. My chances of winning may have been slim but I fought like crazy to win anyway

PROBLEM: Win ONLY attitude leads to envy and jealousy and bitterness and hatred and PRIDE and ARROGANCE.

Jam 3:16 NLT For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. [MSG things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.]
Pro 16:18 GNB Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.
Pro 29:23 NLT Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Remember just winning doesn’t not mean you are a success in life. Remember also that not winning does not make you a looser. John Ortberg in his book Everything Goes Back in the Box, writes “Merely winning doesn’t mean we have always achieved our inner excellence, and losing doesn’t mean we have neglected it." Most of my WINS in life were built on lessons I learned from a number of my loses.

Philippians 3:13 NASB Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

COMPETITION involves more than just challenging others. It involves challenging ourselves.

Second Goal [the more important Goal] of COMPETITION is Self -IMPROVEMENT

COMPETITION is not just the opportunity to win but it is also the opportunity to achieve, to improve, to push ourselves to new levels. COMPETITION – good healthy competition should:

• Cause you to move when you only want to stop.


• Push pass old limits.


• Study when you think your mind is unable to take in one more piece of information


• Push when you feel you can’t push anymore.
  
  

If you didn’t push yourself, if you don’t even try then you will never become strong, better, more disciplined for the next battle. If you never push the envelope of your present day limits you will never reach into the realm of victory although you may experience some success

Hebrews 12:1 GW Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything [Weight] that slows us down [Encumbrance], especially Sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up [Endurance].

So what are some of the things that good competition should develop in is. I wrote an acronym from the the words FAST TRACK to help you remember my suggestions.

F aithful - Commitment, Diligence, Trustworthy
A ttitude - Positive, Contentment, Not Greed or Envious
S ubmissive - Humble, Peaceful
T eachable - Willing to Listen, Obey, Change

T ruthful - Honesty, Transparent
R epentative - Forgiving, Willing to Change
A vailable - Servant’s heart, Giving
C ompassion - Mercy, Grace Oriented
K nowledgeable - Wisdom, Understanding

Competition can be as healthy as clean fresh air or a toxic as poisonous gas. Competition can build us build or tear us down. Competition can launch us to new levels of hope or sink us down into a deep pit of despair

Colossians 3:12-17 NLT
v12 Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
v13 Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
v14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
v15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
v16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. . . ..
v17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

So go out this weekend and hit the playing fields. But come Monday have you improved as a person from your experience (experienced some type of character development) or do you just have another mark in your win or lost columns.