A man should “prove his own work,” Paul wrote in Galatians 6:4, and it should be proved in the light of God’s will and not in the shadows of somebody else’s achievements. There is no place for competition in the work of God, unless we are competing against sin and Satan. When we see words like “best, fastest growing, biggest, finest” applied to Christian ministries, we wonder who is getting the glory.

This does not mean that it is wrong to keep records. Charles Haddon Spurgeon used to say, “Those who criticize statistics usually have none to report.” But we must be careful that we are not making others look bad just to make ourselves look good. And we should be able to rejoice at the achievements and blessings of others just as if they were our own. After all, if one member of the body is blessed, it blesses the whole body.

Verse to Remember: “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load” (Galatians 6:4-5, NIV).

Also consider: Psalm 133:1; Colossians 3:12-14; Galatians 5:13, 22, 26; 1 Thessalonians 4:9;
1 Peter 3:8.

Action assignment: Think about competition in its various forms—as you see it in others, as you see it in yourself. Determine whether you are letting competition turn you into an unloving person. Ask God to help you do all things in a way that pleases Him.