Winning Isn't Everything

"It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game." "Winning isn't everything." Nice sentiments, but everyone knows that the truth is that these are simply platitudes that losers say to make themselves feel better. Winning is everything.

In our world, it is. In what world would that not be true? It would be true in a world where I am not the center of the universe. Oh, but wait, that's our world. The difference, of course, between my mythical world and our world is that they would know it ... and we don't. Oh, we may acknowledge it mentally. We may logically agree that we are not the center of all existence. But for most their worldview revolves around "looking out for #1". In that worldview, winning is everything.

In my mythical world, it would be true that winning isn't everything, and that it is more important how you play the game than whether or not you lose. You see, how I come out of the game -- winner or loser -- only matters if I am the primary issue. If I see others as the primary issue, then my winning or not is irrelevant. Their well-being is the primary concern.

Funny thing. That is the demand of God on Christians.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:3-5)

It's pretty clear. There is no ambiguity. "Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself." Oh, there is one ambiguous point in this translation. As it turns out, the word "merely" ("do not merely look out for your own personal interests") isn't in the original text. That's odd. Well, it can be inferred, perhaps, and it is illogical and unrealistic to suggest that we never ever look out for our own personal interests, but I'm making a point here. According to this passage and our example, Christ Jesus, our personal interests are at the bottom of the list. "Not My will, but Thine."

Can you imagine what that mythical world would look like? Driving would be different. No one would cut you off. People would be deferential. There would be a thing we used to call "common courtesy" which isn't so common anymore. Businesses wouldn't be fighting their way to the top. Just think how marriages would change. Every corner of your life would be touched by this viewpoint and nothing would be the same, it seems. No, I don't suppose I can imagine that world.

We shouldn't have to imagine it. We should be living it. Sure, unbelievers aren't going to follow this. The world around us might not change. But we who call ourselves "Christians" -- Christ followers -- ought to be emulating Christ, and laying down self in favor of placing the importance on others ought to be a hallmark of our lives. Maybe we can begin today. Maybe we can't change the world, but perhaps we can change one little corner of it ... our own.