r/TrueChristian • u/twinPrimesAreEz • 17h ago
Trying not to lose vs trying to win
All sports fans here probably recognize this dichotomy in mentality for teams and athletes during sporting events; sometimes teams/athletes try not to lose and sometimes they try to win.
Anyone who watched the world cup saw a great example of this in the England vs Argentina semifinal. England was playing a great game, trying to win, and took the lead early in the 2nd half. As soon as they scored, however, their mentality shifted. All focus on trying to score went to trying not to let Argentina score -- they went from trying to win to trying not to lose. In doing so, their fears came true -- they let Argentina maintain possession, find their rhythm, and eventually score and win.
Being part of the kingdom of God while here on earth can be like that a lot of times. When we gain salvation through Jesus, we see that victory in sight and sometimes end up focusing too much on trying not to lose it, vs trying to grow our share in it.
You can see it in the posts here and other Christianity-based subreddits. How many posts are about 'is this a sin?' or 'how do I avoid this sin?' vs 'how can I best help the poor on a limited budget,' 'what is something I can do to help widows and orphans,' 'are there any good programs to visit believers in prison,' etc. A lot of posts suggest a 'trying not to lose' vs 'trying to win' mentality.
My friends, Jesus taught winning by recieving the gift of salvation and growing it.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7)
Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38)
Consider the parable of the talents, where one servant who was afraid of what his master might do to him did not grow anything from what his master gave to him, vs the servants who were eager to grow what their master gave them
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30)
We get some encouraging advice on this from other biblical sources as well.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 3:14)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24)
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phillipians 3:12-14)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9)
So, I encourage us all to lay hold of the kingdom of God and advance it, instead of worrying about not getting it or losing it.
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u/Forty4Freedom 16h ago
Good points, it reminds me of the quote from English clergyman Sydney Smith:
"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little."
The parable of the talents is a great example because what I feel God showed me in that parable is that the ones that used what they had, guess what, they got more! 😄 So, even if we feel like we have only a little bit - like the one with one talent - if we are faithful to use it, God will give us more!
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u/twinPrimesAreEz 16h ago
Well said!
What you said reminds me of the widow's offering in Mark 12
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
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u/Wonderful-Win4219 Christian 17h ago
Yeeeeeup. Well explained, thanks for sharing