Ready, Set...Oh NO!!!

"Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?"
-->James 3:11

Ok so with being here at Emmanuel we have convocation and chapel services that we are required to attend on a weekly basis. This Wednesday night we had the RD of Wellons hall as our speaker. He graduated last year and he really brought a word that some of us needed to hear.

He was discussing how we have sin in our lives. We know we have it and when we make a change we automatically start cleaning up the outside. For instance if we have a cussing problem, we just start watching our mouths and what we say. Sometimes the full effect never happens WITHIN us....we change the outside but not the inside. That's good right?! Well he gave an example of friends and how they may react to one another. He said we may tell a friend, "Hey guess what I lost 5 pounds!" And instead of encouraging or praising us for it they shoot right back with "Yea, well I lost 10 pounds!" It's almost like they are saying, BEAT THAT! I compared it to the whole one-upping game.....I have a friend that feels like they always need to one-up me....with EVERYTHING. Anything I have done or that I have or that I get, they have it already or had it at some point or they just simply think they have something better. Don't get me wrong, I am only human and I do tend to brag at times, but I believe that I am also aware of other people and their feelings when it comes to things that may make them feel accomplished. I don't like to rain on anyone's parade it's just not that satisfying to me.

As Christians I believe we should learn to humble ourselves and allow someone to have some glory for once. It's not always a competition of who has better or who can do/say better. After all we should not continuously lust after material things to fill our lives. In the end to me, that is all the one-up game is. It is a battle to see who has better things or who has done it already. It drives me insane when I have something to say that I think is worth saying because it makes me feel good, it encourages me and I want to share it so I can encourage someone else and/or get feedback. But what I do not expect is to be told, "Yea, well I have something better......"

I guess for me, tonight was a learning experience with something that I was having a hard time with for awhile. I know some mean well and may not realize it, but I also believe there is a line that should be drawn. People or friends for that matter should not be constantly seeking to "beat you." Your happiness should make them happy. We have become people that are all about ourselves. We become completely unaware of our surroundings and how sometimes our words can be a bad effect instead of a positive one. Sometimes you never know if that person could be struggling and your words can make or break them. So will you decide to have words that can be encouragement or words that are simply said for mere competition? The choice is yours :)



"People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is resless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth....."
James 3:7-10