1. What can the competitive spirit lead to?
To do whatever it takes to look better than others. Ruthless practices, injuring others, cheating on exams.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
The competitive spirit can lead us to do anything in order to appear better than others, for example, ruthless practices can be reached in the case of players until they injure others, or someone who has to take an exam to be approved to cheating, this is all wrong and we may even get to this point if we don't take care of ourselves.
2. What will we see in this article?
We will talk about what defects can lead us to want to appear better than our brothers and we will also analyze some examples of faithful servants who did not allow themselves to be carried away by this competitive spirit.
LET'S TAKE A SELF-EXAM
3. What questions should we ask ourselves?
The questions we must ask ourselves are: "Do I need to compare myself with others in order to feel good about myself? What drives me to work in the congregation? Is it a desire to be better than others or, at least, better than true? brother or sister? Or is it simply my desire to give my best to Jehovah? "
4. Why should we not compare ourselves to others, as Galatians 6: 3, 4 says?
Because if we compare ourselves with others, we can become proud or become discouraged. That is why Sister Katerina said that she had a habit of comparing herself to other sisters who seemed prettier, more skilled in the ministry, and friendlier than her and that made her feel like she was worthless.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Because we can become proud the text says, and if someone believes that he is something when he is nothing, and to understand it better the slave gives us the example of a sister named Katerina, she said that she had a habit of comparing herself with other sisters who They seemed prettier, more skilled in the ministry, and friendlier than she was, and it made her feel like she was worthless. So if we have that custom we must remember that Jehovah did not draw us to him because of our beauty or ease of speech or popularity, but because we are willing to love him and listen to his son, since there is a variety in the congregation and we are part of her.
5. What do you learn from what happened to a brother named Hyun?
From this example I learn that if we see our brothers as rivals we will foster a spirit of competition, which will cause divisions in the congregation, we must recognize that if we have thoughts like this we must make changes in our way of thinking, because we must see our brothers as our own. Companions and not as rivals, if we do so we will promote peace and unity in the congregation.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
As mentioned in the paragraph, this brother from Korea saw others as rivals, because they had privileges in the congregation and when that spirit of competition exists, he says that he criticized them and almost never agreed with what they said, he also recognizes that his attitude He caused divisions in the congregation, how good that he made changes and now, according to experience, he is a very good elder, who is undoubtedly now helping a lot in the congregation and no longer encourages this type of competition, but promotes peace.
LET'S NOT BE EGOCENTRIC OR ENVIOUS
6. According to Galatians 5:26, what defects can lead us to manifest a spirit of competition?
One of them is self-centeredness, that is, being proud and selfish, and the other is envy, that is, wanting what someone else has and wishing they don't have it, and this has to do with hatred, all of this is involved with that kind of feelings, and we do not want to be as Galatians 5:26 says so well.
7. What example helps us understand the damage caused by self-centeredness and envy?
They can be likened to fouling impurities, like jet fuel - these impurities can plug fuel lines and cause engines to lose power just before landing and the plane can crash. A Christian with these characteristics will stop serving Jehovah, he will hurt himself and others.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
The paragraph puts as a comparison the impurities that may be in the fuel of an airplane, these although perhaps very small, can cover the fuel pipes and cause the engines to lose power just before landing or at the time of rising , and that can cause it to crash and that there is a fatal accident, a Christian who has the characteristics of being self-centered and envious can stop serving Jehovah, he will hurt himself and of course he will hurt other members of the congregation, it may be a small thing apparently but the damage can be disastrous.
8. How can we fight self-centeredness?
If we think that others are superior, we will not compete with others. Rather, we will be glad that they have more talents or abilities than we do. And if these brothers who have such talents use them to praise Jehovah and see good qualities in us, there will be peace and unity in the congregation.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
It was said that the egocentric is someone proud and selfish and we avoid being so when we think that others are superior to us who have more talents more abilities and that is why we should rejoice, and those abilities and talents should be to praise Jehovah and we should concentrate in the good qualities that these brothers have and if we are the ones who have those abilities, use them to praise our God, since the issue or the bottom line is that we want to promote peace and unity in the congregation.
9. What will help us control the tendency to envy?
Be modest, acknowledge our limitations. Let's find ways to learn from others. If someone prepares good speeches, ask how he prepares them. Recognize their abilities and if they are useful to imitate them as much as possible.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
When we are modest, that is when we recognize our limitations, we will try to learn from others to see good points in them and try to put them into practice, since this fosters our spiritual growth and also peace in the congregation.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
For example, the paragraph mentions cases such as if a brother presents good public speeches, we could ask him how he prepares it, if a sister cooks very well we can ask her for some tips to improve, if a young person has skills to make friends we can ask them for suggestions to see how to do it , all that will make us see that others have a different ability better than ours and we will admire them to some extent for this.
LEARN FROM BIBLICAL EXAMPLES
10. What situation did Gideon face?
After the victory he had with the 300 men, those of the Ephraim tribe went to argue with him for not having invited them to participate in this feat.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
In the book of Judges in chapter 8 the victory that Gideon had with 300 men is mentioned, when the tribe of Ephraim found out what Gideon had achieved, instead of congratulating on that victory with the support of Jehovah, they went to claim because they had not been taken into account, as the paragraph says they were focused on protecting the honor of the tribe and not thinking about the most important thing that is to honor the name of Jehovah and the protection that he gave to his people.
11. How did Gideon respond to the men of Ephraim?
He calmed them by answering humbly, "And what did I do compared to what you have done?" with that he calmed them down.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
The way I deal with them when I told them, what I did compared to what you have done and reminded them how Jehovah had blessed them, that is, I highlight good qualities with that they calmed down and put aside their pride, and they could then go on all in peace. So we see that Gideon was willing to put aside his pride because he had to exalt himself for what he had achieved in victory, but he preferred to go to the main point highlighting qualities that they had.
12. What do we learn from the Ephraimites and Gideon?
We should not place more importance on protecting our honor than honoring Jehovah. From Gideon, if someone is upset, try to see things from his point of view. Commend him for something he did well, the important thing is to keep the peace.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
That we do not want to worry so much about protecting our honor, rather we must exalt and honor Jehovah, in the case of Gideon instead of being upset, he saw things from their point of view, well it is true we do not take them into account, but you have such and such privileges. In this way we tried to seek peace and that is something that we should also do, congratulate a brother or sister who has done something well, and for that it is necessary to be humble to recognize that the other person has something better than us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
And we have there a drawing where you can see how Gideon is talking to this tribe. It has to be a tense moment, but he did it to keep the peace and it really helped a lot so that it does not happen to a greater thing.
ILLUSTRATION:
Gideon speaks with Ephraimites who are armed. Because he was humble, Gideon kept the peace with the Ephraimites. (See paragraphs 10-12).
13. What problem did Ana have, and what did she do?
Due to not being able to have children, Elcana's other wife was humiliated by Peniná. Still he did not seek revenge on Penina. Rather, she turned to Jehovah and trusted that he would help her, the sadness disappeared from her face.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
In the first book of Samuel chapter 1, it is related that this woman was Elcana's wife and he had another wife named Penina, this woman was always humiliating her, because she could not have children, yet Hannah did not seek revenge for her pain, rather She went to Jehovah as the story says the first Samuel and asked Jehovah to help her and if it was possible for him to answer her prayer, she trusted in Jehovah and then the story says that her sadness disappeared from her face according to chapter 1 verse 10 to 18.
14. What do we learn from Ana's example?
We can control how we will react. Do not return evil for evil, rather make amends to maintain inner peace.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
First, we do not want to pay badly with bad, as Romans 12 says, but rather that we must know how to control our reaction so that we cause something bad, we better let things stay on course and try to maintain inner peace.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
In the drawing, Ana is seen after having asked Jehovah for a request and trusting that he would help her, her face can be seen where she is calmer, as if a weight had been lifted off her and left things in Jehovah's hands despite weighing of the situation that awaited him at home.
ILLUSTRATION:
Hannah leaves the tabernacle with a calm face as High Priest Eli watches her. Trusting that Jehovah would help her, Hannah regained her inner peace. (See paragraphs 13 and 14.)
15. How were Apollos and Paul alike?
They had enormous biblical knowledge and were very influential and well-known teachers. They had helped many to be disciples.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
The two had enormous biblical knowledge, were very influential and well known teachers and had helped many to become disciples, but they did not see themselves as rivals, but rather as collaborators.
16. What kind of person was Apollos?
Apollos was a good speaker and knew the scriptures very well. In Corinth, some preferred him, although he did not encourage that way of thinking. He was humble and tried to help his brothers and allowed himself to be helped by Aquila and Priscila.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
In facts chapter 18 it is said that he was a man who came from a well-known cultural center like Alexandria, he was a good speaker and knew the scriptures very well, when this Christian was some time in Corinth, clearly some preferred to go to him or see him as a better teacher than even the Apostle Paul. As he recounts in the first Corinthians 12 and 13, the Apostle Paul even asked him to return to Corinth and if he had been a promoter, then of course the Apostle would not have asked this.
And a point that stands out in Acts 18: 24-28 is that Aquila and Priscilla helped Apollos to explain God's way more accurately and he did not object, he let them help him, that showed that he was a humble and humble person. who accepted advice.
17. What did Paul do to promote peace?
He did not feel threatened by Apollos and recognized the work he was doing. Paul drew attention to Jehovah and Jesus Christ.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
He recognized the work that Apollos was doing, He was not threatened by him, it is bad Paul was humble, modest and reasonable, and without a doubt he also recognized that there could be some points from which to rescue Apollos as a good speaker, so he did not he was fomenting this division nor was he threatened.
18. In harmony with 1 Corinthians 4: 6, 7, what do we learn from the examples of Apollos and Paul?
Recognize that all that is accomplished in a spiritual sense is through Jehovah's support. Furthermore, the more responsibilities we have, the more we must foster peace and unity. Teaching should be directed to the Bible and encouraged to imitate our model Jesus Christ.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Under inspiration Paul is clearly indicating that what they had was not their property, but received from the Spirit of Jehovah, so it must be recognized that everything is achieved with the support of God. In addition, this teaches us that the more responsibilities we have in the congregation, the more we must promote peace and unity, and always direct the teaching to the Bible and encourage us to imitate our model that is the Lord Jesus Christ, we must recognize that this model of Jesus it never fails.
ILLUSTRATION:
The Apostle Paul and Apollos converse animatedly. Knowing that Jehovah was blessing the work, Apollos and Paul did not see each other as rivals. (See paragraphs 15-18).
19. What can each of us do? (See also the box “Let's not promote competition”).
Use our skills to serve others. Anything that seems small but promotes peace we must continue to do so.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
As 1 Peter 4:10 mentions, if we have a Gift we must use it to serve others, anything that seems small but promotes peace we must do within the congregation, we want to promote peace in the congregation and the unity that is so much want.
BOX "Let's not promote competitions"
Without realizing it, we could help foster a spirit of competition in the congregation. This could happen if we make inappropriate comments about who is the best speaker, who makes the best comments, or which of the forerunners is the best of all. Perhaps we will compare an old man with another who has skills that we like. But the elderly are imperfect human beings. And if one of them sees that they are always being compared to another, they can start to see them as a rival. That would do a lot of damage to the congregation.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Why should we do a self-exam?
We should not compare ourselves with others. Work to foster unity in the congregation. Give your best to Jehovah.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Because we want there to be peace in the Congregation and not a competitive Spirit, that is why we should not compare ourselves with others, rather work to promote this unity since we want to give the best to Jehovah and see that we contribute so that this progresses.
What will help us not to foster a competitive spirit?
Do not be self-centered or envious. That is, not to be proud and selfish. And not wanting what others have or wishing they didn't have it. We want to think that others are superior to us. And if we have talents and abilities, use them to promote unity and peace in the congregation.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
We do not want to be egocentric or envious, that is, we do not want to be proud and selfish and not want what others have or wish that they do not have it, rather we want to think that others are superior to us and if we have talents and abilities we want to use them to promote the unity and peace of the Congregation.
What have the examples of Gideon, Anna, Apollos, and the Apostle Paul taught you?
Stay calm and see things from the perspective of others. Control our reactions and leave things in the hands of Jehovah. Not promoting division despite having gifts that we have received and seeing others as those who can contribute to the spiritual growth of many.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
It teaches us that if we want to remain calm and see things from the perspective of others, as Gideon did, we must control our reactions and leave things in the hands of Jehovah as was the case with Hannah, because we do not want to promote divisions to Despite having gifts that we have received and we want to see others as those who can contribute to the spiritual growth of many and of course support them as happened in the case of Apollos and the Apostle Paul.
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