The world lives by competition. This past summer the city of Vancouver hosted seven of the North American FIFA games in which international football/soccer competition was at its best—even if Canada did not make it past the quarter finals! The intensity of emotion was felt throughout the tournament by players and spectators alike.
But competition is experienced not only in sports. Other professions like the business world, the legal professions, the academy, the health sciences and the media world, to name only a few, are all largely driven by competition. But is this all bad? Not necessarily. After all, many of the advances in the health sciences, the manufacturing and tech industries come about because of competition.
Nor are all sports competitions bad. They provide opportunity for highly motivated people to test and improve their skills whether in running, ski jumping, or pole vaulting. Even the apostle Paul makes positive reference to sports when he acknowledges that engaging in sports requires strict training and adherence to the rules of the game. He even likens himself to a runner bent on completing the race and receiving the victor’s prize. The writer to the Hebrews gets in on the action when he exhorts his readers to run with patiencethe race set before them. (1 Corinthians 9:24-26; 2 Timothy 2:5; Philippians 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:1)
Where then, if anywhere, does competition become a problem? For Jesus it becomes a problem when the spirit of competition enters the circle of his own disciples. For instance, on one occasion when he and his disciples were returning home from a day of ministry in Capernaum, Jesus noticed the disciples vigorously arguing about something. Once in the house he asked them what it was they had been discussing on the way. Nobody wanted to answer. No wonder. They had been arguing about who was the greatest among them.
Although Jesus no doubt already knew what it was they had been discussing, he asked the question anyway in order to provide an opportunity for him to teach his disciples about the nature of true greatness. Sitting down with the Twelve he explained to them that anyone who wants to be first must be willing to be last. This is because greatness in the kingdom of heaven means to humble oneself and to become like a little child. (Mt 18:1-5; Mk 9:33-37; Lk 9:46-48)
Turns out, however, that this was a very hard lesson for the disciples to learn. Only a short while later, the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, approached Jesus with a request. They asked him if he would do for them whatever they asked. An astonishing request, to be sure, but seeking to humor the two disciples Jesus asked, “What is it you want me to do for you?” “If you please, Master,” they said, “when you come into your kingdom let one of us sit on your right hand and the other on your left hand.” Patiently Jesus tried to explain to them that although there were some things in which they could participate with him, to sit at his right hand or left hand was not for him to decide but was for those for whom it had been prepared. (Mark 10:35-40)
When the other disciples got wind of James and John’s request, they were furious with their colleagues. Who did they think they were, trying to leapfrog over the rest? As a result, once more Jesus had to sit down and remind his disciples about the meaning of greatness in the kingdom of God. “You know very well,” he said, “that in the world, rulers and high officials lord it over their subjects, sometimes even stepping on each other to get to the top. But that’s not how it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must become your servant, and whoever wants to be first, must be slave of all.” “Take me as an example,” he continued. “Even though I am the Son of Man come down from heaven, I did not come to be served but to serve, and to give my life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45; Luke 22:24-27)
The point Jesus was trying to reinforce yet again was that true greatness does not consist in power, popularity or wealth, but in sacrificial service for others. Like the disciples, we may find the upside-down values of the kingdom of God hard to comprehend. While they may appear strangely counterintuitive to us, these teachings can nonetheless be deeply meaningful and rewarding for us all when put in practice.
