PROVERB 2: COMPETITION
Memorize it:
“Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.”
~Proverbs 17:14 NLT
Live it:
We like to feel good about who we are and what we do. So let the games begin when we gather with family members (who also want to feel good about themselves) at Christmas time. As we listen to their “news” we may feel happy for them. Or we may fake everyone out with a smile and “congrats, man!” Or try to one up them with our own stories of grandeur. Maybe we even coerce our kids into being something they are not so we appear to be the “better” parents. Or our annoyance results in an insult or an elbow to the face on the basketball court. Trying to outdo one another causes deceit, pain, and tempers to flare.
This is why Proverbs 17:14 says to “stop” it. When we quarrel we open the floodgate, or the door, for disputes that cause damage. No promotion at work or smaller numbers on a bathroom scale prove how loved and significant you are. The cross of Jesus Christ… now THAT is a different story. So… relax. Pay attention to your thoughts as you listen to your family members share about their weight loss or European vacay. Instead of keeping up with the cousins, celebrate and pray for them instead. May God help us embrace who we are in Him and what we’ve been given through the cross of Jesus Christ this Holiday season.
Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Before you go:
I would love to know your answer to the following question below in the comment section. What is something that makes someone feel “inferior” to others or what is something that makes a person feel “superior” to others?
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I think shaming for differences makes one feel inferior or superior depending on which end you are on.
Yes, shaming… it is nasty. I think our tone and not just the words we use can also be considered shaming as well.