We live in a world full of comparison and competition. At work, we are hired to do competitive analyses. As consumers, we are asked to make purchase decisions based on quality comparisons, food value, and other needs. In our community, we naturally use our comparative analytical skills to make decisions on education in our family, where to live, and what to eat. We compare with others to gain a competitive edge in nearly everything.

In many ways, we live in an ecosystem that demands that we stay ahead with distinctions through comparing and contrasting. The world values our ability to do competitive analyses. Our jobs require us to think and work in this ecosystem. The marketplace also bombards and reinforces us with advertisements to do competitive shopping based on value for our money.

Focusing solely on competition and competitiveness outside of our work, however, will be futile; if we do so, all things will be relative – our joys, our sorrows, our successes, our not-so-pleasant experiences, guilty feelings, etc. Instead, we are to focus on the absolute promise of God and His gifts and blessings for each of us. (Gifts are freely received from God and not for us to compare who got better or more (than me).)

If you still want to compare, look around, and you will see how people are suffering from the flooding during recent storms and how Ukrainians are living under constant rocket attacks. Thank God that we have peace and living quarters that provide protection from war and the elements.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Apostle Paul reminds us:
“There are different kinds of gifts… service. working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work… for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit… wisdom… knowledge… healing… miraculous powers… speaking in different kinds of tongues…the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

All these gifts are from the same Spirit (of God) with one purpose – to be a part of the body of Christ, a community within the Church where Christ is the head of the Church. These gifts, unique for each of us, are not intended for us to do competitive shopping or to showcase our distinctions. Instead, we should remind and encourage one-another that individual giftings and blessings are intended for us to humbly serve one another as Christ has done. We are called to emulate Christ with our giftings in living intentionally and living missional lives with a clear purpose.

May the Lord bless you in living intentional lives for Christ.