Winning at All Cost

God can use you to help win the lost.  Warren Wiersbe

We have become a society that wants to win at all cost.  We see this on every sports field in the country.  Parents want their children to excel in sports so they encourage winning at the cost of relationships.  How many parents have you seen who become angry because their child doesn’t get to bat or play in the game?  Often they will get so angry that they will either attack the coach or referee.  When did winning become the main goal above all else?    

God gives each of us talents to use for His kingdom.  Each child is given talents that should be nurtured, but too many times a parent will want their child to win so much that they will push the child into a sport or profession that they have no God-given talent in. 

Sometimes this happens because the parent wanted to excel in something but didn’t, so they try to mold their child into what they couldn’t be or they try to force their child to become what God never intended them to be. 

The pressure that is placed on kids in this day and age to become the best and to win at all costs is often beyond what a child’s maturity level can handle.  Parents often will push their children into three or four sports or into an occupation and when this happens and the child fails, a parent will often ridicule the child for not winning.  

We can see biblical examples of winning at all costs by reading about Cain and Abel. Cain wanted to win God’s favor but Cain’s offering wasn’t pleasing to God but Abel’s was and Cain killed Abel over it. 

One of the things I love about Jesus is that he never lost sight of what His ultimate goal was in His life on earth.  He was here to win souls and he did that even while he was hanging on a cross dying for our sins.  Winning can be a blessing or a curse.  It all depends on how it is applied.    

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I often see children berated for not winning on the sports field.  I see children pressured into being something they were never intended to be.  You give each of us talents that are intended for the purpose of Your kingdom. Help parents to understand the huge responsibility they have and to use the wisdom You provide to teach their children how to use their God-given talents.      

Scripture:  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Romans 12:4-5

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.  Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.  And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.  Genesis 4:3-8