Ever since I can remember I hated to lose... I mean hate! I remember many times after losing at something I would hide under my bed because I didn't really know how to deal with my emotions or the embarrassment I felt. It didn't matter if we were playing cards or racing to the car... I had to win!
I wish I could say that was just when I was younger and that I grew out of it... But I didn't. It spilled into my teenage years, my twenties and now I am in my early thirties and I still feel that same fire when playing anything. I adapted this saying in my teenage years that I still feel to be true today... There is only one thing I'm not good at and that is losing.
I am the worst loser... I don't handle it well and back when I was active I'm shocked my friends would put up with me... I wanted to win at all cost! I wouldn't break the rules, but I would stretch them and be the rule enforcer.
I am now much more mature, but anytime I am in a situation that is competitive I feel that fire inside me and often times I ignore it because I'm afraid that I will embarrass myself with my competitive drive.
I now find myself wondering why I ignore it? Does winning really matter? Is my competitive drive "Christian"? The more I think about it the more I am convinced it is how God created me. I am not the quickest, the most talented, the smartest, most athletic, best looking, toughest, strongest or even the wisest guy... But more times than not I win! There is almost nothing I won't sacrifice for winning.
Certainly there are boundaries that keep this desire or obsession healthy, but winning is Biblical. Christ wins... Love wins... The Bible even tells us to "run in such a way as to get the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24)".
I like to take on the best... I like to find out what I am made of... I like the thrill of winning... What I need to work on is how I go about doing it... Winning I believe is Biblical... How we go about winning tells a lot about us.
If you call yourself a believer in Christ then we should be "running the race in such a way to get the prize"... What does your life say about the way you are running?
Mine is screaming that there is always someone out there that is a much better runner, but my continued determination and focus on Christ will help me become a much better runner. I just have to keep my eye on the prize... That prize is the one who created me and if I continue to strive for Him, then I will continue to grow and in the end... I'll win!
Are you a winner?
Does it matter if you win or lose?
Do you believe winning is Biblical?
What are you doing to make sure you are "running the race to win?"
