In some regions in the United States, the laboratory business is divided between two major national reference laboratories. Motivated salespeople traverse their respective territories to visit physician offices, clinics, and hospitals, hoping to persuade the professionals to switch their loyalties from the other laboratory and join with theirs. Each laboratory does its best to malign the other, casting aspersions upon the credibility and reliability of their results. Ultimately, though, the decision usually rests upon pricing and the laboratory that can offer the lowest prices usually obtains the contract. The stark reality is it is a zero-sum game, winning market share is only at the expense of the competitor.
In business, competition with rivals sometimes appears to be a zero-sum game. Gaining market share is only at the expense of another rival but the entire pot remains the same. Life seems to be like this as well. Some feel we can only truly excel and prosper at the expense of another, making ourselves look good by pushing down another. What about our spiritual lives? Does following God mean we would have to give up too much of our independence? If God wins, do we lose? Like the rest of life, is a relationship with God a zero-sum game?
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
In God’s Kingdom, the opposite is true. The more we allow God to take over our life and finances, the greater His blessings will be upon us, literally opening the windows of Heaven. As we are become more generous and giving of our time and resources we grow, not at the expense of another but because the pot also grows.
A relationship with God is not a zero-sum game, it is a limitless receiving of God’s love, grace and mercy!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 