Competition

Our western society has become so drenched with the idea of competition that we don’t notice anymore. We have become used to asking „What did you like best about …?“ or „Which is your favorite …?“ or „Who is the best …?“ These are all questions of competition. But why should I elect one aspect, one asset, one person over all the others? What is the profit of choosing one winner and shaming many losers?

We have also become used to thinking that we must be better than the others; that we can only be winners if others are losers. All kinds of TV shows, sport events, games are stimulated by the drive to celebrate a winner - even if he/she is only 1/100 second better than the next.

Of course it’s in our human nature. Kids don’t need to be taught to race. „Let’s see who gets there first“ is an invitation for excitement. „I can do it better than you“ comes over their lips as soon as they talk in full sentences.

But Jesus came to help us overcome human nature. „Whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.“ (Mk 8,35). Not all of human nature is bad, but it needs the Holy Spirit in order to prevent it from going rampant. Competition is not in itself bad, but it needs the Holy Spirit in order to stay in its proper place.

May the Holy Spirit guide us into all the truth - also about competitive behavior!