Are you a competitive person? I used to really struggle with that so badly when I was younger, but I’ve mellowed out a little bit in my 40s. Nevertheless, I can still find myself wanting so badly to win at whatever I’m doing.

For those of us who are competitive, Apostle Paul suggests a more excellent way. You want to compete? He says why don’t you compete in showing honor to one another. He says in Romans 12, “Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Wouldn’t that be a refreshing atmosphere to be in? In a world where people are constantly trying to get ahead by tearing each other down and outdoing one another so that they can win, wouldn’t it be nice to be in a situation where people try to outdo one another in building each other up?

You might be thinking:  well, what if I build them up, but they won’t build me up? Well, I say to you two things. One, never forget Jesus’ Golden Rule: treat others how you want to be treated. And two, never forget what I call the Golden Return: people will treat you how you treat them. Just start building others up and just wait and see that they don’t begin to build you up in return.

And then the competition is on! Outdo one another in showing honor.

Change begins in you!