• Philippians 2:3-4
    Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
     
  • James 4:1-3
    Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
     
  • Isaiah 14:12-14
    "How you are fallen from heaven,
    O Lucifer, son of the morning!
    How you are cut down to the ground,
    You who weakened the nations!
    For you have said in your heart:
    'I will ascend into heaven,
    I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
    I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
    On the farthest sides of the north;
    I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
    I will be like the Most High.'

     
  • Galatians 5:20
    idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
     
  • James 3:13-16
    Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
     
  • Numbers 16:1-3
    Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"
     
  • Ephesians 2:2-3
    in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
     
For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Competition


Resources

Overcoming Satan's Competitive Spirit

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

The competitive spirit to dominate a competitor, not confined to athletic contests, militates against God's mandate that we esteem others over ourselves.


'I Want To Be First'

CGG Weekly by Ronny H. Graham

Human nature harbors a deep desire to be first, a drive to compete and overcome. God has instilled in us the ability to strive and prevail, offering valuable lessons through such endeavors. However, satan has distorted this instinct, turning it into endless rivalry among men, evident in everything from sports championships to …


Pride, Contention, and Unity

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Pride motivates us to exalt ourselves above others and to compete against them, often leading us to reject truth in order to promote the self. This destructive force drives us to gamble even with our own and others' lives to achieve personal gain. In the example of Lucifer, pride brought him into contention with God, exalting …


Unity Through Humility

Sermonette by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Competition has been a driving force in shaping societies, fostering growth and innovation through the constant push to excel and outdo others. It permeates every aspect of life, from childhood rivalries to professional endeavors, embedding a culture of striving for superiority. However, this same competitive spirit, when …


The Zero-Sum Game

Commentary by Mark Schindler

The prime feature of political decision-making is that it's a zero-sum game. One person or group's gain is, of necessity, another person or group's loss. As such, political allocation of resources is conflict enhancing, while market allocation is conflict reducing. The greater the number of decisions made in the political arena, …


Satan, Division, and Humility

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Competition is the root cause of war, business takeovers, and marital discord. Solomon describes man's rivalry with one another as a striving after wind.


Conflicts In The Body

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

As members of God's family, we must be quick to forgive one another for real or imagined slights. Those in God's Kingdom, will all be working together.


The Agape Evolution

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

In one context, evolution is absolutely real:the transition of one of God's called-out ones from a state of fear to a state of transcendental agape love.



For more resources, please see the library topic for Competition