Winning vs. Not Losing
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24
Two weeks ago I attended a conference for the Nehemiah Leadership Network on Systems Theory, the Life Cycle of the Church, Multicultural Ministry, among other teaching. One of the greatest things I came back with, was the title of this article. The Super Bowl is coming up and the question is, do you want to be on a team that going to give their all to win or try to not lose.
A winning team will put everything it has into play. Each person’s strengths are utilized and pushed beyond their limits to win. A winning team is focused ahead, pushing and striving to be better all the time. It is exciting to be part of a winning team, because there is energy and enthusiasm. On a winning team, the whole team works together for one goal, one vision.
Every so often a winning team becomes a team that strives not to lose. They hold people back. They try and save themselves. They are focused inward on what they have and trying to keep that. They are a team trying to preserve everything instead of giving their all. They don’t strive to win, they strive to keep things the same. There is no energy on a not losing team. People do not step forward to give their all or use their gifts. It is about maintaining more than winning.
In the verse above, Paul calls us not to be a team that focuses on not losing, but a team that focuses on running the race so that we will win. A team pushing and doing everything we can to be the first one at the finish line. A team in which all people use their talents and treasure and time together for the purpose of the Will of God.
We have taken some pretty hard hits this past week and lost some very dear loved ones, but we can’t now begin to pull back and preserve ourselves. We have to keep moving forward, keeping pressing on, keeping trudging to the goal with all that we are. We have to keep our focus on the prize of our vision and mission. We have to keep stepping out on faith, giving our all, getting out of our comfort zones.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?” Let’s be the church that wins the prize. Let’s be the church that goes the extra mile to love our neighbors and our enemies. Let’s be the church that gives our all to reach out to a hurting and broken community. Let’s be the church that at the end of the day can say, “I ran to win.”
Everyday we have the choice to take a not losing mentality, or to trust God and run with all that we are. My prayer is that we will follow in Jesus’ footsteps and give everything we have.
