Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World
Day 234 – Cutthroat competition
Scripture focus: It’s obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: …cutthroat competition… Galatians 5:19 and 20 The Message
The Greek word for cutthroat competition is “eris” – used to describe political parties that have different platforms or agendas. Newer translations of the New Testament translate it a “party spirit”. During an election year, this word needs little explanation. Politics is ugly business. Renner (Sparkling Gems From the Greek, July 17th) says it like this, “a bitterly mean spirit that is so consumed with its own self-interests and self-ambitions that it would rather split and divide than to admit it is wrong or give an inch to an opponent”.
If politics is ugly, then family politics is brutal. Most of us are either personally affected or have known others who have become so divided as a family that divorce became the only option. This is such a tragedy. Divorce is often blamed on “the other woman/man” or “growing apart” or “falling out of love” or “incompatibility” – but it seems to me that cutthroat competition always plays a part in the disintegration of a family.
No one starts out intending to be bitterly mean. I’d love to have a nickel for every person who has told me that they hope their divorce will be amicable. So hear my heart on this, I don’t think divorce is reserved for the bitter and mean – it regularly happens to good, kind, loving, sincere people. I’m also not taking sides. I don’t think divorce happens when one bitter and mean spirited person gets hitched to a good, kind, loving and sincere mate. I absolutely believe that oftentimes divorce happens to two good, kind, loving, sincere and well-intentioned people.
So what gives? Anytime we focus on our self-interests and ambitions – things can get ugly. It does something to the spirit to have to focus more on self than others. And divorce, by its very nature, is the tearing away of two who became three (husband/wife/couple) in an attempt to restore them back into two again. This is painful. And it changes people.
In an effort to avoid all that, it would be absolutely awesome if we could come together and try to figure out how to live on a daily basis without cutthroat competition. Getting our way all the time isn’t good for us! Learning how to humble one’s self to the marriage is not only essential if we want to avoid divorce – it’s actually a great place to learn how to live the kind of life God dreams about for us.
Ideally, a wife pays close attention to her husband – partnering in facilitating his well-being and good living. The husband does the same. If one spouse can trust that the other is always looking out for their best interest, it frees them from the need for self-protection and competition. If one spouse is selfish, it’s hard to implement this plan without someone getting hurt.
These same principles apply in all areas of our life. We must learn how to live with others without cutthroat competition. It’s going to take a big heart to learn how to do this one!
Recommended reading: Job 1 and 2 in the morning; Job 3 and 1 Corinthians 14 in the evening
Scripture focus: It’s obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: …cutthroat competition… Galatians 5:19 and 20 The Message
The Greek word for cutthroat competition is “eris” – used to describe political parties that have different platforms or agendas. Newer translations of the New Testament translate it a “party spirit”. During an election year, this word needs little explanation. Politics is ugly business. Renner (Sparkling Gems From the Greek, July 17th) says it like this, “a bitterly mean spirit that is so consumed with its own self-interests and self-ambitions that it would rather split and divide than to admit it is wrong or give an inch to an opponent”.
If politics is ugly, then family politics is brutal. Most of us are either personally affected or have known others who have become so divided as a family that divorce became the only option. This is such a tragedy. Divorce is often blamed on “the other woman/man” or “growing apart” or “falling out of love” or “incompatibility” – but it seems to me that cutthroat competition always plays a part in the disintegration of a family.
No one starts out intending to be bitterly mean. I’d love to have a nickel for every person who has told me that they hope their divorce will be amicable. So hear my heart on this, I don’t think divorce is reserved for the bitter and mean – it regularly happens to good, kind, loving, sincere people. I’m also not taking sides. I don’t think divorce happens when one bitter and mean spirited person gets hitched to a good, kind, loving and sincere mate. I absolutely believe that oftentimes divorce happens to two good, kind, loving, sincere and well-intentioned people.
So what gives? Anytime we focus on our self-interests and ambitions – things can get ugly. It does something to the spirit to have to focus more on self than others. And divorce, by its very nature, is the tearing away of two who became three (husband/wife/couple) in an attempt to restore them back into two again. This is painful. And it changes people.
In an effort to avoid all that, it would be absolutely awesome if we could come together and try to figure out how to live on a daily basis without cutthroat competition. Getting our way all the time isn’t good for us! Learning how to humble one’s self to the marriage is not only essential if we want to avoid divorce – it’s actually a great place to learn how to live the kind of life God dreams about for us.
Ideally, a wife pays close attention to her husband – partnering in facilitating his well-being and good living. The husband does the same. If one spouse can trust that the other is always looking out for their best interest, it frees them from the need for self-protection and competition. If one spouse is selfish, it’s hard to implement this plan without someone getting hurt.
These same principles apply in all areas of our life. We must learn how to live with others without cutthroat competition. It’s going to take a big heart to learn how to do this one!
Recommended reading: Job 1 and 2 in the morning; Job 3 and 1 Corinthians 14 in the evening
Copyright 2008 Northstar Community
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