It’s time for the Body of Christ to stop the squeeze and get on with Kingdom assignments. Competition and striving are prevalent in Christian circles and are at a feverish pitch. It’s crazy. There is no competition in the Kingdom. Instead of competition, we each have spheres of influence we are all called to serve. The spheres might overlap, but they are distinct and defined. Competition only serves to slow down Kingdom progress, rather than speed up individual advancement. There is room for us all to serve.

Last week I recalled a memory. When it happened, my husband and I laughed, but when the memory came to mind last week, God used it to make a serious point. It bears a lesson important for us all to heed.

A few years ago, my otherwise laid back husband developed a competitive spirit. Unbeknownst to me, he was diligently squeezing out the last skerrick of a toothpaste tube. He told himself if I could continue to use it, he would, too. He refused to quit and start a new tube of paste. The irony? He was unaware I was using a different tube of toothpaste, so he was only competing against himself. He finally realized his mistake when he saw me take my toothpaste tube out of the cupboard to brush my teeth. I was squeezing out of my personal supply. I was not competing with him at all.

I laughed when he told me what he had been doing. It was uncharacteristic of him. He wasn’t normally so competitive, especially not with me. He had been squeezing that tube and competing with no one but himself.

When this memory came back last week, I pondered. So much of the Body of Christ is striving and competing with one another for position, rather than encouraging each other to purpose. Desperately squeezing on what they must perceive to be a limited supply of favor, they refuse to give up. They panic as they jockey for position. People make their belief systems clear through behavior. It is clear they believe there isn’t enough of God’s favor to go around. They strive to be noticed and pull down those perceived to be in their way. Barbed words and actions used to undermine others, as the yeast of Herod prevails.

It’s sad. Their very behaviour shows a core belief based on lack. With the goal of being noticed, they squeeze their way to the perceived top. The saddest thing is they are competing with no one but themselves.

I encourage us all. There really is no lack in the Kingdom. There is enough room for us all to shine. For as you shine, you do not lessen my light, but together, we cast greater light. If we will encourage each other to grow, as we step into the fullness of our individual calls, we will affect the world for Christ, and be a sign and wonder. There is no lack in the Kingdom, so let’s stop squeezing with desperation. Let’s stop the squeeze and believe in Kingdom abundance. There is room for us all!

© Beth Kennedy 2024