Why We’re Not in Competition With One Another

Have you ever heard the saying, “God broke the mold when He made you?” Well, I believe this is true. I believe that when God made me, He said, “I literally could not perfect this masterpiece. She will be named Katie Stansfield, and she will be amazing!” Before you think I’m completely full of myself, don’t worry—He said the same thing about you, and He meant it.

I recently gave a group of children a large floor puzzle to assemble. They quickly went to work, but unbeknownst to them, I had withheld a few pieces when they weren’t looking. As they neared their completion, they realized that they could not finish the job. I asked them to look at all the pieces and tell me if any two of them were the same? They said no. I asked them if the puzzle could be completed using just the pieces that they had. They said no. The lesson they quickly caught on to was that every single one of those pieces had an important role to play, and each one of them was unique. If one piece tries to be like another, it doesn’t work and lessens the value of what could be if everyone saw the importance of their unique fit.

This simple illustration addresses a common tendency for all of us as human beings to engage in some kind of competition or rivalry with someone else.

I am close friends with a New York Yankees fan. I have witnessed firsthand the visceral response that comes from her when a certain baseball team from Boston is brought up. You see, rivalry comes in many forms, and it has been around for as long as time.

Lucifer wanted to be better than God. Cain was jealous of Abel. Jacob and Esau were at war in the womb. (Poor Rebekah!) Rachel was jealous of Leah for having children. Joseph’s brothers were so envious of him that they sold him into slavery. David’s sons fought over position and power. Jesus’ disciples argued over who was the greatest. The Sadducees were jealous of the apostles. The list goes on and on.

Any time that we step out of our identity and rival with someone else, it’s like trying to put together that puzzle by one piece attempting to take the place of another piece. It won’t work. Instead, we push someone else out of their position, and in turn, there is an empty space that only we could fill.

God didn’t mess up when He made you. Likewise, He didn’t make you to want to be anybody else. God created you uniquely with inherent value.

Ephesians 1:4-6 (TPT) says, “And in love he chose us before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence. For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace—for the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!”

Did you notice how many times those verses used the word “us”? We are not in competition. The same love that the Father has for Jesus is the love that He has for you.

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Katie Stansfield is the co-host of the upcoming Life Exchange Podcast (coming to Charisma Podcast Network late Summer 2021!) Katie is passionate about raising up healthy people so that they can lead well. With a practical, down-to-earth style, Katie believes in tearing down personal and societal barriers, so we can model and lead successful and healthy lives and cultures. She does this as a staff pastor and administrator at Giving Light in Elizabethville, Pennsylvania. Giving Light offers a safe and empowering culture of honor and validation to their local community as well as a wealth of equipping tools and resources through their online platform at givinglight.org.