Posted on April 19, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
“Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NKJV)
I have a co-worker, John, who earned a MMA championship about a year ago and had no problem bringing his championship belt into work for all of us to see… and wear. Many of us took selfies with it, either around our waists or over our shoulders – like I did (made it my social media profile picture for a while too). It was cool to have a moment with someone who trained long- and hard- enough to achieve a goal, and then share that accomplishment with everyone, whether they mattered or not.
John is quite the character and I wouldn’t wanna get in the “OCTAGON” with him, but recently, we were having a conversation about being a musician. I can’t (or won’t) repeat how he described them (us) but it really did make me wonder, “is wanting everyone to watch as you make someone, who you’ve kicked and punched around for about 1.5 minutes, tap out any different than wanting everyone to watch you do a solo on your Ibanez SDGR 370STD bass guitar with an Ampeg sound that’s absolutely killer?” My response to John’s comment was, “Just like everyone wants to be God, don’t we all wanna be big rockstars?”
One thing that lies within all of us is the sense of competition. John has chosen to compete in a sport that requires much training. Apparently, the only way to test out that training is to find an opponent who has trained as hard, or harder, and then either knock them out or make them submit. If John gets either of these, he gets his hand raised in victory, signaling to him that he stands out. I have chosen to play a bass guitar; and with that there is much to study and practice. For and the only way to test that out is to play alongside other musicians. If I’m any good I’ll be invited back, signaling to me that I stand out.
In both cases, the part that gives us solid affirmation is an audience. As I was explaining my “everyone wants to be God” comment to John, I told him we do what we do because we want EVERYONE to look at us and applaud what we worked hard to perform. But in a twist of essence, we’re asking an audience to pick a side and that within this sense of competition we’re asking people to divide. Who’s a better MMA opponent? Who’s a better bass guitarist? There’s no way EVERYONE can finish in first place, it’s just that simple. So, choose your champion (or bass guitarist) wisely!
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” — 1 Corinthians 6:2
In Genesis 13 we read a story about competition, division, and the audience; but it’s over sheep, so don’t get your Philadelphia Eagles jersey out just yet (oopps, let that slip out, sorry). Anyway, this is about getting the best grazing field for either Abram’s herds or Lot’s herds. And in the background watching, are the Canaanites and Perizzites. Everyone mentioned is very wealthy and they want the best for their livestock, so naturally, they argue terms and it isn’t until Abram shows that he is willing to yield do we get any resolution. So, since Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley and made his choice to take the bestest for himself. “Hey isn’t that Gomorrah over to the left? Hmm…”
This incident may be “small potatoes on the world’s stage,” but it gives insight to a truism. Check out this quote from the Interpreter’s Commentary, “Note that there will always be two classes of men, and regarding them, every man needs to consider which one he is tending to belong to—the men like Lot or the men like Abraham. It is a distinction that every young man who first surveys his will and determines what kind of success he will aim at; it confronts every mature person in the return decisions where conscience would go one way, and the temptation to experiment in Sodom points the other.”
Ya know, in the end, having the greener grass for your herds to graze upon may have you end up in a city that turns into the wolf when the sheep’s clothing gets dropped to the ground. I wonder if that why Lot’s wife turned back to look. Not a yearnful glance, but one that wanted to make sure God was keeping His word to destroy the wolves. Hmm? Anyway, I’m slowly approaching my word count for today. I would like to continue with a few other things to looks at when we think “ROCKSTAR”!! Until then, keep your nose in Ecclesiastes, because it ends up being all vanity…and chasing after the wind.
Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, a husband, and a father. He has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy, 11/2003. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net.
Think About This: “It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” — C.S. Lewis
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 7, 27, 31, 34, 52, 56, 120, & 140. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:19
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
