Leading the League in Love: A New Competition

 

Summary

In today's reflection, I shared a unique perspective inspired by a professional football team's goal to "lead the league in love." This idea challenges the conventional competitive spirit often associated with sports, where the focus is typically on winning and personal achievement. Instead, it invites us to consider a different kind of competition—one that is centered on love, humility, and service to others. This concept is beautifully illustrated in Romans 12, where Paul encourages believers to "outdo one another in honoring each other above yourselves." This is not about surpassing others in a negative sense but about striving to uplift and honor each other in love.

I also drew from the wisdom of John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, who emphasized that the real contest is with oneself. Wooden taught that the true measure of success is not in the scoreboard but in the effort and dedication one puts forth. This aligns with the idea that our ultimate competition is not against others but against our own potential to love and serve.

Furthermore, I explored C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters," which offers a profound insight into the nature of evil and hell. Lewis describes hell as a place where existence is defined by competition and domination, a zero-sum game where one's gain is another's loss. This contrasts sharply with the divine vision of unity and love, where the good of oneself is intertwined with the good of others. This divine philosophy, as Jesus prayed in John 17, is about becoming one, reflecting the unity and love within the Trinity.

Ultimately, we are called to reject the survival-of-the-fittest mentality and embrace a life of love, where our well-being is connected to the well-being of others. This is the essence of true community and the heart of God's kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

- Embrace a new kind of competition: Instead of striving to outdo others in achievements, focus on outdoing one another in love and honor. This approach transforms relationships and communities, fostering an environment where everyone is uplifted and valued. [01:27]

- True success is measured by effort and integrity: Inspired by John Wooden, the real challenge lies in giving our best and being true to ourselves. Winning is not about the final score but about the dedication and effort we put into our endeavors. [03:02]

- Understand the nature of evil: C.S. Lewis's depiction of hell as a place of competition and domination offers a stark contrast to the divine vision of love and unity. Recognizing this helps us choose a path of love over self-centeredness. [04:46]

- Unity is at the heart of God's vision: Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17 highlights the divine desire for us to be one, reflecting the love and unity within the Trinity. This unity is achieved through love and selflessness. [06:12]

- Reject the survival-of-the-fittest mentality: We are not created for competition but for love. Our existence is not about dominating others but about living in harmony and mutual support, reflecting the true nature of God's kingdom. [06:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - The Buffalo Bills' Unique Goal
- [01:14] - Biblical Inspiration from Romans 12
- [01:42] - Redefining Competition
- [02:35] - Lessons from John Wooden
- [03:46] - Insights from The Screwtape Letters
- [05:00] - The Nature of Hell and Evil
- [05:57] - God's Philosophy of Unity
- [06:24] - Created for Love, Not Competition
- [06:38] - Embracing a Life of Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:10 - "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
- John 17:21 - "That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 12:10 suggest about the type of competition Paul encourages among believers? How does this differ from typical competitive behavior? [01:27]
2. How does John Wooden's philosophy of success, as described in the sermon, align with the biblical concept of competition? [03:02]
3. According to C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters," how is the nature of hell described, and how does it contrast with the divine vision of unity? [04:46]
4. What does Jesus's prayer in John 17 reveal about God's vision for unity among believers? [06:12]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the idea of "outdoing one another in love" transform relationships within a church community? What practical steps can be taken to foster this kind of environment? [01:27]
2. In what ways does John Wooden's emphasis on personal effort and integrity challenge the conventional understanding of success? How can this perspective be applied to one's spiritual journey? [03:02]
3. How does the depiction of hell in "The Screwtape Letters" serve as a warning against self-centeredness and competition? What lessons can be drawn from this portrayal? [04:46]
4. What implications does Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17 have for how believers should interact with one another? How can this unity be achieved in practical terms? [06:12]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you were competitive. How could you have approached it differently by focusing on love and honor instead? [01:27]
2. Identify an area in your life where you can apply John Wooden's philosophy of giving your best effort. How will you measure success in this area? [03:02]
3. Consider a relationship in your life that is marked by competition or conflict. What steps can you take to transform it into one of mutual support and love? [04:46]
4. How can you contribute to the unity of your church community this week? What specific actions will you take to promote harmony and togetherness? [06:12]
5. Think of a time when you prioritized personal achievement over the well-being of others. How can you shift your focus to align with the biblical call to love and serve? [01:27]
6. What practical ways can you reject the survival-of-the-fittest mentality in your daily interactions? How can you encourage others to do the same? [06:38]
7. Reflect on a personal challenge you are facing. How can you approach it with a mindset of love and unity, rather than competition and domination? [06:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Outdo One Another in Love
In a world where competition often means surpassing others in achievements, the call to "outdo one another in love" presents a radical shift in perspective. This approach is not about winning accolades or being the best in a conventional sense but about creating an environment where everyone is uplifted and valued. Romans 12 encourages believers to honor each other above themselves, fostering a community where love and respect are the highest goals. This kind of competition transforms relationships and communities, making them places of genuine care and support. [01:27]

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you honor today by showing them love and appreciation in a tangible way?


Day 2: True Success Lies in Effort and Integrity
John Wooden's philosophy that the real contest is with oneself challenges the conventional notion of success. True success is not measured by the final score or external achievements but by the effort and dedication one puts into their endeavors. This perspective encourages individuals to focus on their personal growth and integrity, striving to be the best version of themselves. By giving our best and being true to ourselves, we find fulfillment and purpose beyond mere accomplishments. [03:02]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life can you focus on giving your best effort today, regardless of the outcome?


Day 3: Recognizing the Nature of Evil
C.S. Lewis's depiction of hell as a place of competition and domination offers a stark contrast to the divine vision of love and unity. In a world where one's gain is often seen as another's loss, this understanding helps us choose a path of love over self-centeredness. By recognizing the destructive nature of competition and domination, we can align ourselves with the divine vision of unity and love, where the good of oneself is intertwined with the good of others. [04:46]

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively choose love and unity over competition and self-centeredness in your interactions today?


Day 4: Unity Reflects God's Vision
Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17 highlights the divine desire for us to be one, reflecting the love and unity within the Trinity. This unity is not just an abstract concept but a tangible reality achieved through love and selflessness. By embracing this vision, we become part of a community that mirrors the divine relationship, where each person's well-being is connected to the well-being of others. This unity is at the heart of God's kingdom, calling us to live in harmony and mutual support. [06:12]

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to promote unity and harmony in your community or family?


Day 5: Embracing a Life of Love
Rejecting the survival-of-the-fittest mentality, we are called to embrace a life of love, where our existence is not about dominating others but about living in harmony and mutual support. This reflects the true nature of God's kingdom, where love and community are paramount. By choosing love over competition, we align ourselves with the divine purpose, creating a world where everyone is valued and supported. This is the essence of true community and the heart of God's kingdom. [06:38]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prioritize the well-being of others in your daily interactions, reflecting the love and support of God's kingdom?

Quotes

"and they have a really cool goal this year that len is leading them in and that is to lead the league in love and i thought for a professional football team uh folks whom we think of as being very very large that often are trying to smash each other into the ground for them to say our goal is actually to be humble and to see how we can serve other people and to see could we lead the league not in yards gained not in wins those are all fine things but actually try to lead the league in love that would be a really cool thing" [00:41:20]

"he says to them be devoted to brotherly love and in one version it puts it like this outdo one another in honoring each other above yourselves and the idea is that we ought to engage in a kind of competition but it's not a competition to be better than or excel over or dominate others it's like you're going to try to honor me you want to encourage me you want to build into me you want to create value for me i want to do that for you i want to do that even more for you so today outdo the people in your life in love" [00:84:72]

"you might think about two different kinds of competition there is a negative form of competition that seeks to establish my value at the expense of yours tries to compare me to yours but then there is a wonderful form of competition where when i compete against you it spurs me on to give the best that i can give" [00:123:43]

"i was very struck years ago by the philosophy of john wooden you might know john wooden was for many many years the coach of the ucla bruins and was also a very devoted follower of jesus and there's a book that interviews a number of his players and they say the strangest thing about john wooden they say he never once said to us you've got to go and win this game and they said later on playing basketball in the nba at the highest of levels often coaches would scream you have to win this game and be quite obsessed with the burden of it but wouldn't always insist that actually the real contest is with yourself" [00:146:48]

"the real challenge is to see can i devote myself can i give the finest that i am able to give because we all have different levels of innate abilities well i focus myself and try the very best that i can and if you do that whatever the final score is then you leave the court with your head held high and if you don't no matter how much the score says that you win you have not actually won" [00:188:15]

"the whole philosophy of hell rests on the recognition of the axiom that one thing is not another thing and especially that oneself is not another self my goodness my good and your good is yours what one gains another loses life is a zero-sum game even an inanimate object is what it is by excluding all other objects from the space it occupies if it expands it does so by thrusting other objects aside or by absorbing them a self does the same with beasts the absorption takes the form of eating for us it means the sucking of will and freedom out of a weaker self into a stronger to be means to be in competition" [00:226:08]

"and screwtape here i think is giving a profound picture of how evil works and about the nature of hell that hell is not so much a torture chamber the way that we often caricature it but it is a view of existence that seeks to dominate and seeks to absorb and views one against the other and i think it's very striking that when the idea of all of reality is that the core rule of life is the survival of the fittest that we are at root somehow finding ourselves in an existence that is focused on making sure that i or my genes or my species or my tribe or my whoever survives at the expense of yours if necessary" [00:286:00]

"it is a fundamentally different and warped understanding of what it means to be human and so screwtape goes on now the enemy's philosophy is nothing more nor less than one continued attempt to evade this very obvious truth he aims at a contradiction things are to be many yet somehow also one and that little word one is maybe god's favorite word jesus as we've talked about before praise in john 17 may they be one father as you and i are one the good of oneself is to be the good of another now" [00:343:03]

"this is a claim that the notion that the survival of the fittest that we are all in competition against one another does not actually lie at the core of reality is not the fundamental rule of existence we are actually created for love not for the propagation of the species the good of oneself is to be the good of another this impossibility he calls love" [00:384:40]

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Transcript
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