“All anybody needs to know about prizes is that Mozart never won one.”
~ Henry Mitchell
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
~ Philippians 3:14
Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
On Prizes
I love competition…raised in a family of competitors…married a competitor…have 3 competitive children…but what I try to hold fast to and try to convey to my children is that being in the race with others doesn’t have to be an antagonistic, winner/loser mentality. As much as I love competing in earthly sport…I rarely “win”…I am athletic but not a gifted athlete…however I truly enjoy the act of competing…the race itself…the training…the pushing…and when in my lane or on a court or field…I am pushed by those around me to achieve…I am inspired by my teammates and even my foes to achieve…or to assist the win…or to at least finish strong…there is no harm in competitiion…but distorted gratification is what gives healthy competition a bad rap…enjoy the race itself…keep on!!!
It’s frustrating sometimes to not be recognized for something I’ve done. Depending on the situation it can be downright hurtful. I try to remember the true prize that I am laboring in love for. As Paul says, all spiritual blessings are in Christ, and we will someday know him in his fulness.
In almost everything we do in this life, we expect to get, win something. A kind of reward in one way or the other. But prize is almost always time-related. May The Holder of time help us to redeem the time and focus on the goal, the eternal goal.
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The idea of rewards is something disdained by modern evangelicals yet it is very biblical to seek to suffer in this life for an eternal reward. A simple reading of Hebrews 11 would show this. There is a great need to suffer against sin in this life so that we can obtain the eternal prize in Christ Jesus.
It is amazing how much we literally suffer and work for earthly “prizes” here. Reputation, success, status, cars, homes, etc. How much more heavenly?
There is One Prize and He lives in us. Is there something else?
WISDOM
I think that we sometimes forget the high calling talked about in Philippians. Our culture is about immediate satisfaction, top performance, get all you can, win the prize. The bigger the church the better, get more,and on and on and on………
I have found successes in the intimate times of prayer and relationship with The Father through Jesus. It is really true. As I come closer to Him, I spend more time in worship, I spend more time praying for my friends and family, for folks I know are sick, for struggling families etc. God begins to answer those prayers, and because I have been spending so much time with Him, I sometimes get to be a part of the solutions, the healing, the forgiving, the salvation. Sometimes I just get to hear about what he is doing and I can rejoice in His work. What a magnificent God we serve. I have seen Him do so much more as I get older and spend more time with Him and less doing “for Him”. Not to say that I am not fully engaged. I believe Martin Luther said “pray as if you do not believe in work, and work as if you do not believe in prayer.”
That said, “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.”
Ultimately, it isn’t about me, it isn’t about you, it is about God and living a life that brings Him glory. Living a life in communion or relationship with Him. For this is why we were created that we might be one in Jesus as Jesus is in the Father. So I find my “reason to be” on my knees at the foot of His cross. I find it in talking to the God who created the universe and poured Himself out as a drink offering so that none would perish. Now, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” and share Jesus and what He has done for me and those I know so that none might perish.
On Prizes:
“Competition is for horses.”
Bela Bartok
(20th Century Hungarian composer)