"Winning Isn't Everything..."

I remember throughout my years in school that different people would use the phrase “Winning isn’t everything …”, but the ending would change, depending on the point they were trying to make.

You’ve heard them as well – “Winning isn’t everything …

… but it’s how you play the game.”

… after all, it’s only a game.”

… it’s the only thing.”

(… and the list goes on)

It seems that whenever I was really digging in to win – some “well meaning” person came and reminds me “Winning isn’t everything, after all – it’s only a game”. However, if “it’s only a game”, and it makes no difference who wins – what is the purpose for playing.

How unfulfilling to go to a ballgame when there is no score kept. Games are meant to be won, otherwise it is not a game – rather it’s just an activity. Over the last several years I have become aware that with our young children there is no score so “no one will feel bad if they lose”. Guess what, most of the kids are keeping score in their heads and know not only about the current game, but their season as well. The few that don’t keep score are easy to identify. They don’t put their heart into it, and don’t seem to really care about what’s happening. They are just there for a social activity, and are waiting for the pop and cookies after the game.

Let’s face it, we are a competitive people. Deep in the center of our spirit God has placed a deep sense of needing to win. Many times in the scripture life is referred to as a game to win. One of these examples is 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.”(NASV).

Everything we do in life is a competition! We seem to be very good at competing for jobs, social position, education, material possessions, etc. where the motto “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing” comes through loud and clear. However, when we look at God’s view of the priorities of life we seem to lose our competitive edge and merely participate in an activity.

I think we need to understand winning is not the goal or prize. I would say “Winning isn’t everything: it is a game (competition), it makes a difference how we play the game, and it is the only thing” rolled all in to one.

We are in a spiritual competition, not only for our spiritual life, but others as well. How we play this game is very important, and we are definitely out to win at all costs – even to martyrdom. Paul said it best in Philippians chapter 3 as he recounted all the things he had attained (education, social standing, religious standing…) before knowing Christ. To sum it up he said these things that were important before are now rubbish, the new goal I press on to win is the personal experience with Christ and His direction for my life. Win at any cost!

Is your spiritual life a win or lose situation, or just an activity you do?

Christmas with a Capital C

When Christmas Isn’t Christmas


Have you ever considered how hard it would be to celebrate something that either has never happened or that you have never experienced in some way?

You can’t really celebrate a wedding without a couple to be married, nor can you celebrate a wedding anniversary without a wedding. Or how about trying to celebrate a birthday without birth, parenthood without children, a good book if you are illiterate, victory without a battle, or …??……

The funny thing is, people are spending great effort to try to do the same thing with Christmas. How can you celebrate Christmas without including Christ?
You say, well Santa can be celebrated in place of Christ, right? Sorry about your luck!!! Santa’s real name is Saint Nicholas who was a Christ centered man. We wouldn’t even know his name if he hadn’t been a lover of Christ to the point he sold all he had to give to the poor because he believed that is what Christ wanted him to do. We even hang up stockings by the fireplace because of him.

Well then we still have the Christmas tree, right? No, Saint Boniface, in 722 encountered some pagans who were about to sacrifice a child at the base of a huge oak tree. He cut down the tree to prevent the sacrifice and a Fir tree grew up at the base of the oak. He then told everyone that this lovely evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven, was a holy tree - the tree of the Christ child, and a symbol of His promise of eternal life.

Since some believe Christmas is “all about the presents”, we can still do that – what’s that have to do with Christ? Well, to be honest, it first started from the story of Saint Nicholas and his giving of presents anonymously - but is also associated with the gifts that the magi brought to Christ after his birth.

Let’s face it, the only way to celebrate Christmas without something that relates to Christ is to abandon Christmas altogether and not celebrate it in any way.

On the other hand, without allowing Christ to be a part of your life, you have nothing to celebrate anyway. It’s just another day that cost you a lot of money, takes up a lot of your time, and is a major inconvenience …… Bah Humbug, as Scrooge would say!

I pray that you find Christ in the middle your Christmas this year, without Him there is no real celebration!