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Minister's Minute: Competing is in our blood

This weekend cyclists from all over the world compete in the Tour de Delta. It is awe-inspiring to watch these athletes racing at breakneck speed through all of Delta, working as teams, but also pushing themselves to the limit as individuals.
Mike Mawhorter
Mike Mawhorter

This weekend cyclists from all over the world compete in the Tour de Delta. It is awe-inspiring to watch these athletes racing at breakneck speed through all of Delta, working as teams, but also pushing themselves to the limit as individuals.

What is it that drives us to compete? Why put yourself through the endless hours of grueling training, riding thousands of kilometres on tiny saddles and spaghetti-thin tires?

There seems to be hardwired in us a desire to improve, to get better, to be the best. If you have siblings, or have spent time on a school playground, or watch a baby struggling to roll over, you know this competitive spirit starts early. Competing is in our blood.

I would argue this inborn passion for growth and improvement is behind healthy human development and advancement in any field. Pushed to the extreme, it causes people to cheat or worse. But without that drive, life would lose much of its spark and progress would grind to a halt.

The Apostle Paul showed this same competitive drive in his spiritual life, constantly pushing for a new personal best. He had given up everything in order to know Jesus better, but wasn’t satisfied with his progress

Using the analogy of athletics, he wrote: “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13–14, NLT)

What if those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus showed this same competitive drive in our spiritual lives?

Contact Mike at mike@ladnerbaptist.ca.