Philippians
2:3 NKJV
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
Today's word is as simple as it sounds. If you find
out that you are doing anything because of selfish ambition or conceit (which
is unhealthy competition), then stop it and do not continue in it. Rather,
compete with yourself and win yourself all the time. Competing with people can
limit you from the unleashing of your full potentials. This is so, because you
would have unknowingly made this rival your standard, when you could have done
even far much better. In most cases, as soon as you win this rival of yours,
you may begin to relax and have a false sense of fulfillment; whereas you could
have been capable of more.
Unhealthy competition breeds jealousy, bad blood and a
"do or die" tendency; and God help you if you never succeed to
surpass your self-made rival; then your life becomes miserable, bitter and
frustrated. The other downside of unhealthy competition is that the other party
may begin to play dirty. They may set you up, injure you or do something very
dangerous and damaging to you, just to get ahead of the game; and you do not
need this.
The way out is to be humble; acknowledge the effort of these successful people,
by celebrating all the good they do and have done. Then, seek to learn from
them where necessary. Genuinely talk about how good they are in the midst of
people. It will end the competition and force them to humbly celebrate you too.
That way, there would be no victor and no vanquished between you both. But when
it comes down to it, always be the one to celebrate the other party. Do this and
you will succeed in life with fewer enemies.
Assignment
i. Determine to consider others better than yourself from today.
ii. Ask God to remove the unhealthy tendencies to compete from you.
iii. Ask the Lord to give you a good heart, so you can appreciate people
without feeling a need to outdo them.
Prayer
-Lord I receive the grace to love and appreciate people in Jesus Name.
-I receive the grace to esteem others better than myself, so I could learn and
be challenged by them, rather than compete, in Jesus Name.
Nugget
Competing with people can limit you from the unleashing of your full
potentials.
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