Tuesday, December 24, 2013

God's Standard of Competition

 Competition improves the lives of people, if they compete according to God's standards; furthermore, we as Christians must pinpoint our efforts on giving to and serving other people. Society and the media may teach us that we all need competition to have fun, improve our skills, or to keep prices down on a variety of goods (For the sake of good business). However, understand that only correct competition improves the skills of people, provides excitement, and keeps prices down. Too often, many people are competing in situations that they should not be competing in. Like, they may box without being present in a boxing match. Then they compete incorrectly when the time comes for them to compete. As if, a right way to compete simply does not exist. For instance, they may cheat during competition and God tells us that is not the right way to compete (With 2 timothy 2:5). Society's bad competing causes drama almost every single time they compete. Many people have caught on to society's disruptive way of competing and called competing itself bad. Competing represents all that is good when done correctly. Competing becomes a sin when done improperly as it then goes against God's word. God does not have a problem with people competing against each other or competing itself. God only has a issue when the action of competing is done incorrectly. The bible actually has scriptures pertaining to competition, sports, and athletes. 1st Corinthians 9:25-27 in the bible for example tells us", Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable wreath". 1st Corinthians 9:25 reminds us to exercise self control as athletes. For we are more important than the perishable item that we compete for. Know that 1st Corinthians 9:25-27 only represents just one section of the bible confirming God's notice of competition. Get ready, this blog will teach one the correct way to compete. 

Just like the acts of arguing, sex, and judging were made for a good cause by God. God created mankind and competition for a good cause. Competition gives two or more people a chance to compare their skills against one another. See, competition was supposed to be just one more natural way for the teacher to teach the student (Or a way for the best to give to the worse). The idea behind competing was to help improve or build up the competition for the better. Never to crush the competition or use competing in a way to determine lifestyles for people. For instance, if two teams were to compete against each other in a sport called Football. Of course, the bible says competitors should play to win and follow the rules. 1st Corinthians 9:24 says", Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." Then the football teams should be sure to follow the rules as 2nd Timothy 2:5 reminds us," An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." After the two football teams engage into competition and a clear winner is decided between the two teams. Both teams are supposed to basically help each other, tell each other how to improve, congratulate each other, and show plenty of respect towards one another. Philippians 2:3-4 teaches," Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others". 

1.) Never compete to hurt someone else physically, mentally, and spiritually in any way. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Always look to improve your opponent.
 2.) Never compete without a proper cause. Meaning, if no sport, board game, video game, person to help, or game period is present then do not compete. Trying to beat another person to the exit by walking faster than them for example represents an improper time to compete. There's no meaning to that competition (It's out of place). Also, avoid dangerous games that one is not trained or positioned for. Don't box outside the sport of boxing.
 3.) Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Refuse to talk trash to the other opponent. Show respect towards the opponent throughout the whole contest.
 Learn these rules above and practice them. Move to please God first and not to compete first. 

Unfortunately, the world does not see competition as a biblical practice; moreover, the world misuses competition and ruins the good purpose of competition. If God created mankind and competition for a good cause. Satan, the God of the world (Refer to 2 Corinthians 4:4), perverted competition and used competition to determine the lifestyle of men. Mankind lives within Satan's world and operates their systems according to his rules. This is how Satan runs his world," Someone who was involved in the occult quoted "Satan's entire kingdom runs on the principle of competition; just the opposite of God's kingdom where everyone serves each other. (See http://www.mt.net/~watcher/bluey.html)" That report describes how witches compete for demons to destroy each other." People's lifestyles are determined (created) by how well they compete in Satan's system. Satan believes that the weakest should serve the strongest. Therefore, the world ignores the what bible says about competition and follows Satan's doctrine. The world does not comprehend how to compete correctly. The world constitutes as a place where everyone selfishly looks out for themselves. The winning businesses, sports teams, or board game players usually do not help the losers improve. The more powerful competitors in America often take their winnings, look to crush the weakest competitors, and go run off into the sunset as monopolies. That way, no one can really improve and become better they are with their help. The world believes in self effort, that a person's life should be decided on competition, and building up one's self from nothing. Then the best competitors believe the worse competitors should find a way on their own to compete. How could anyone think this sorry idea of competing was ever the right way the way to determine lifestyles for people? The top competitor just takes everything for themselves until someone finally is able to compete with them. Society does not follow God's way of competing fully. Society does not mean correct and Godly competition when society talks about competition. They just mean that their version of competition itself depicts good, regardless of if their version is done by God's standards or not. 

Society actually only tries to include a few of God's rules with their idea of competition. Such as, the exclusion of cheating, showing good sportsmanship, and placing in the hard work to win (Refer to 2nd Timothy 2:5 and 1st Corinthians 9:24 in bold above). The world tries hard to enforce breaking rules with laws and to motivate it's citizen to work hard by offering social goals like the American Dream. Our society does not truly teach people how to correctly compete nor does society associate God's name or ways with competing at all. When the other rules come up like no competing out of rivalry, no boasting, be lead by God and not competition, or etc. The world could certainly care less about those bible teachings. If 2 rivalry football teams like Georgia Tech and Georgia said that they compete out of old-fashioned hate every year. The world would not care about those 2 football team's bad competing. The world thinks competing out of rivalry or anger is okay, along with the rest of those other wrong actions. People may shake their head at a person or dislike a person who brags while competing, but they won't send that boastful person to prison. America claims to compete for everything and never get in trouble for competing incorrectly. Soon America will suffer the consequences for competing wrong. The world's idea of competing comes an "Survival of the Fittest" mind set. "Survival of the Fittest" was made into a society called an Empire*. An Empire has people who maintain a "Empire State of Mind" that comes from Satan himself. Animals, for example, live by "Survival of the fittest" because they have to survive. Sports teams, for instance, play by "Survival of the fittest" to a certain degree because they have to find the best of them. No persons lifestyle was ever supposed to be determined by how well they compete. Humans do not have use competition to find the best. People are supposed live in structure where they help each other become "Fit to Survive". A place where the most talented people show their talents through helping others. Christians must live according the God's way, since the world has chosen not to. There are way too many Christians who believe in Satan's form of competition (Let's hope that it's unknowingly). The bible tells God's word and the truth about how to correctly compete. Christians must take a stand by following God's truth and compete the way God intended mankind to do so.

A society built off competition period not only is evil, but ultimately biased towards competitive driven spirits. Jesus teaches us in Matthew chapter 6," Take heed you do not do you do not do your deeds before, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your father in heaven". A society depends on competition first, not God first, when it is built off competition. A competition built society does not line up with what Matthew chapter 6 says and this truth makes an act of evil. God comes first, one breaks spiritual law when one goes against his word, and he may not want a group of people to build their society off competition. God told Abram in Genesis 12:3," I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curse you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." God could have already blessed one person to bless another person until the blessing came to one. Just like how God blessed Abram to bless all peoples on earth through him. Yet, how would one know God decided to bless people this way, if one only moved based off competition first like Matthew chapter 6 teaches us not to do? Look to please God first, besides competition will not help everyone. Everyone was not born as natural competitors and won't thrive off of competition. Only the most competitive people will always push themselves to compete better. A teacher would be benefited to use a person's high competitive drive to help them succeed at a desired task. Such as, helping them control their competitiveness, mastering their chess skills, or to even improve their driving skills. God has graced these individuals with a good competitive drive to help them. Often though, they can run into problems due to their competitive drive in our society. In a society where they are tempted to compete often can lead to many problems for them. Highly competitive people can have a hard time knowing when to stop competing at times. Also, highly competitive people can be tempted to compete improperly a little easier. Most likely due to them wanting to win so much. Their competitive nature essentially then becomes a thorn in their flesh.

Message To Everyone:

Highly competitive people are not the only people who can compete wrong. Be content with what God gave you and do not compare yourself to anyone else (focus on what you can give instead). If one stops comparing and starts looking to give then one will always be two steps a ahead of ever becoming overly competitive (Jealous or etc). God gave one something special, so one should improve on and be proud of one's godly gift. Look to solve problems without the use of competition so much. Competition does not have to be used for single task. Also, learn to give, teach, and serve to one's competition. Two strong competitors who build themselves will always improve themselves faster than strong one competitor can. Plenty of people will continue, even after reading this blog, to compete wrongly. However, secretly bad mouthing people for their unrighteous competing does not stand as the right action to take. Especially if they are looking change their ways and if they struggle in the area of resisting improper competing. Understand, the pesky temptation to compete out of place can be hard to resist, especially when the opportunity to compete presents itself. Forgive and look to help those people who suffer difficulty with the act improper competing. Teach them to stop comparing, write down the rules of competing for them to follow, or try engaging them into a sport where they can compete. 

----
  Notes:

1.) The 1 percent of America in income believes everyone should work for them since they are the strongest competitors. They don't believe in helping anyone else become better than or as good them at gaining income. The"Shocking Wealth Equality of America" video ( Link to the video here http://www.cdmsociety.com/_The-Shocking-Wealth-Inequality-of-America/video/1825422/183368.html ) proves that they do not want any competition.

 2.)* "Masturbation is a sin" was actually one of top contenders for the "Bible Misquotes" blog. Many people actually believe that they are suppose live their lives ignoring their sexual organs regularly. Mostly likely due to some over religious pastor, congregation, person, or etc telling them that anything sexual outside of marriage is a sin. The belief that masturbation proves to a sin is wrong. Mankind was not created to live as singles or married individuals without ever using their sexual organs. Nobody ever tells one not to use the other organs of body, but somehow one must avoid using one's sexual organs (That's makes no sense). Once everyone finds out that they cannot live as if their sexual organs do not exist. Most people go ahead and resort to handling their sexual needs through fornication usually. They are not told that masturbation helps them and stop fornication. Click here:http://cool3disk.blogspot.com/2013/05/masturbation-comprises-as-erotic.html to learn why masturbation does not register as a sin.

3.) Society likes to show a false version of showing humbleness and sportsmanship. Notice, this why teams and players shake hands with each other after the game. They don't really share their knowledge on how they won, tell the other team how to improve, or care about the other team. We as Christians must change first and set the example. We must incorporate the main focus on helping each other in our lives, businesses, and just our environment. You know, stop all the pointless competing and compete correctly in the right situations. Like, no churches should be ever be competing with each other. I mean, if you just have to compete then at least help each other in the process. We actually need our own country or environment though. I do not think that we can change the world (At least not at this point in time) . We are supposed to be the light and salt of the world until Jesus comes back (Then we are gone from here). But, until Jesus comes back, we are going to enter into power positions of the world. So, once we enter into power positions in the world. Like, through maybe our own business or another company. We got to represent God and be that light of the world. Then, most importantly, help each other get into power positions, so we can be the light of the world. 

4.) Notice, the evil group in the movie series "Star Wars" is called "The Empire" (The good side is known as "The Republic"). "The Empire" specially replies on competition to decide the society's leader. The leader does not look to help anyone become more powerful than him or her. This evil side believes that by making everyone serve the mightiest competitor (Darth Vader was the strongest warrior). They keep themselves strong as the best competition, who must constantly guard themselves from the weakest competition, always raises to the top. They, unfortunately, are actually weakening themselves. If their head leader falls then their whole society will fall. Not only did they compete incorrectly, but they formed a whole society of incorrect competing. Ironically, America watched the movie series "Star Wars" and did not even recognize that their own society was operated equally to Empire society from the movie.

5.) http://cool3disk.blogspot.com/2013/05/life-is-not-unfair.html This link is to another blog that explains competition better.  

Friday, December 20, 2013

Do not Lean on Physical Ability Only

Do not lean on Physical Ability Only

   Ecclesiastes 9:16 in the bible says," Wisdom is better than strength". What does this truly helpful passage mean or warn us about? Well, the scripture from Ecclesiastes 9:16 simply means that actually knowing how to and when to do something serves one better than using physical ability to do something. Physical abilities like our strength, speed, or stamina. For example, a person may have always relied on strength only to push a lawn mower through a tough part of the grass his or her whole life. When this person in the example finally gets older and can't use strength anymore. The person will not know or understand how to move the lawn mower through the tough part of the grass. The person never bothered to actually learn how to do so. Too many people have made the mistake of only relying only on physical ability to do things in their life. Such as, their jobs, driving, working out and etc. Then they may suffer later on in life because they never bother to learn how to things properly. Know that God has graced one along with everyone else with a talent to do something. Do not lean or put ones hope into on physical ability only*. Physical ability will only deteriorate as old age sets in. Much better to fully understand and know what one is doing than not to. That way, one can always take the proper steps regardless of physical ability. As Christians, we need to chase God first before doing anything else. Chasing God begins with becoming skilled at doing God’s word in our daily lives. We can begin to improve by learning about God and his ways. Going to church, understanding what the bible says, and etc are ways to help us grow up into mature (skilled, master, wise) Christians. Skilled Christians can imitate God better than beginning (or baby) Christians. Strive to get better at doing God will for ones life. Remember, follow the heart first and then God’s teachings from the bible. Every born again believers heart has been graced to do the word of God. Trust the heart first and then God’s word that one learns from reading the bible