“Outdo one another in showing honor”. (Rom.12:10)
Heavenly Father, what an intriguing verse—we are all familiar with competition and the effort required to outdo others. Some people live to outdo one another in pickle ball, weight loss, or on the golf course—and losing can send clubs flying and golf carts into a lake. Some of us compete economically—either to “outdo the Jones,” feed our security idol, or reach the never-reached-zone of “having enough.” Some of us compete spiritually—outdoing one another in theology learned, verses memorized, children catechized. We can turn anything into a stage to bring honor to ourselves.
Abba, our generation desperately needs renewed passion and joy in the most redemptive form of competition imaginable—outdoing “one another in showing honor.” Oh, that respect, honor, kindness, and other-centered compassion were championed again. This isn’t a “sweet,” naïve sentiment, our call to “play nice”; it’s the calling you’ve given us in Jesus, the culture the Gospel creates, and one of the signs the Kingdom of God is nearby.
There’s always an honorable, kind way to do even the most difficult relational matters—at home, at work, and in our culture. Life isn’t about winning but serving; not getting more but giving more, not gaining applause but giving love, not earning a higher place on the org chart but choosing a lower place where your grace pools.
Whether we’re in a complex family story, having to make hard decisions about our workplace, or need to confront dear friends with hard stuff—grant us big grace, Abba-trust, and tenacity in loving each other as well as we can. We will never regret “erring” on the side of honoring Jesus. We’ll only regret seeking to look good, gain control, and finishing on top. So Very Amen.
