The Meaning of Competition

Recently, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo, injured his ribs.  An opposing defensive back for the Washington Redskins, who the Cowboys would play the following week, said this about the matchup:  "Absolutely, I want to get a chance to put my helmet on whatever's hurt...If you know something's wrong with an opponent, you're going to try and target that."

In other words, if this defensive back gets a chance to put Romo out of the game or debilitate him even more, he'll do it if it means a greater chance of winning. Is this what competition is all about? Is it really about "taking out" the opponent?

The original meaning of the word "competition" in the Greek, "competere", literally means to "strive with." In other words, sport is meant to see two people or two teams "competing" and making each other better. Sure, there may be a winner and loser, but, in the end, we both will be better for having competed against one another. I will make him better by being at my best; he will make me better by being at his best. We will sharpen one another.

In this, I don't see my "opponent" as "opposing" me at all.  He's not my foe, he's not my rival, and he's not my enemy. I actually need my opponent for the following reasons:

1. Without him, I don't have a match, game, or contest. No one likes to just practice all the time. We want to compete!

2. He will actually show me where I'm at--where I need to improve and where my strengths lie. A competitor who is not at his best doesn't give me a true picture of where I am.

3. If he's at his best (not injured, sick, or ill-prepared), it will force me to be at my best. Only the cowardly savor a win against a weak opponent. A true champion wants to compete against the best.

Jesus says something very interesting that has application to sport in our culture today. He says in Matthew 5:43, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.." According to Luke's gospel (6:27), Jesus says it like this: "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Those who set themselves up as our "enemies" are not to be treated as such. They may want to "take us out," but Jesus calls us to actually bless them. How do we do that on the mat, court, or field? Here are three thoughts about how we can bless our opponents:

1. We bless our opponent by being the most prepared possible and giving it our best effort during the contest. We actually cheat our opponent/enemy if we come ill-prepared. I bless him by being at my very best because I know he will have to step it up, and he'll be better for it.

2. Additionally, during the competition we display "sportsmanship." There is no malicious intent on our part to injure; we don't aim to humiliate; and we don't react to his attempts to do so to us. In doing this, we bless him.

3. At the end of the contest, we bless our opponents by shaking hands firmly  in gratitude for the opportunity to compete and get better--win or lose. This is the true test of the heart.

A blessing is simply an undeserved gift. We give these gifts even though they may not be deserved.

Why do we bless rather than curse? Because Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, offered us blessing, an undeserved gift. All of us have rebelled against and separated ourselves from a holy God and deserve hell. Rather than seeing us separated from Himself for eternity, God offered himself as a payment for our sin on the Cross. Our sin, His death. Our sin, His punishment--in our place. His resurrection from death solidifies victory over sin and death on our behalf, that we can have new life both now and for eternity. When we receive that blessing by faith (not works), our heart is so changed that we desire to bless others, even our enemies.

We are in opposition to God as his enemies (Romans 5:10), and He has extended blessing to us. Will we do the same to our opponents?

If only the defensive back from the Redskins understood that he would actually be worse off by taking Romo out of the game. If he only understood that as an enemy and opponent of God, Jesus Christ has offered a hand of friendship and blessing to him. Would sport look different today if we were to "strive together", blessing our opponents in the process? I pray for God's power to enable me to do so.