"I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was" goes the first line of a very famous theme song for "Pokémon," a highly rated animated show and game series. And now that it has a new augmented-reality game version out there, players are actually trying to do just what the song says. While that sounds quite good, there's a catch to that:
That song line actually speaks of massive competition.
Many times in life we are tempted to become better than others in our craft. A young and hopeful basketball player wants to be the next (or better than) Michael Jordan or Stephen Curry; a young science whiz dreams of topping Albert Einstein; and some other young musicians want to be just like or better than their favourites like U2. In the pursuit of such dreams, competition arises, and some of it becomes unhealthy.
Preaching competition
Did you know that such kind of competition also exists in the Christian world? Pastor so and so brags about how better his church is compared to another. Worship leader so and so compares his worship band with another church's worship band. Worse, preacher so and so compares his preaching style and ability to capture audiences with another preacher.
Paul spoke about such competition in the Bible. He told the Philippian Christians, "It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me" (Philippians 1:15-17).
No competition
Paul said, "it is true." If we are honest enough to admit, there are times when we are tempted to compare ourselves with others in the family of faith. We compare our looks, our jobs or careers, our properties, even our skills. This should not be, because God has made us unique and intended for special purposes. Only you are designed to be you, and only you can do what God intends you to do.
Look at Paul's response to another's jealousy: "But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice" (Philippians 1:18).
Focus on your role
Paul also reminds us in Galatians 6:4-5, "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct."
