Do You Have Leaderboard Envy?

Imagine you are a NASCAR driver and you are in the hunt for the Sprint Cup Championship. At second place in the chase for the cup, you know you are in contention for the season crown, but as things happen in this final race, you are pretty far behind in the pack while the points leader is out front with a comfortable lead.  All you have to do is beat him in this race and you have the crown.

The Challenge

You are slowly moving up through the pack, but things continue to happen that hinder your progress.  You see your hopes dwindling away.  What makes it worse is your knowledge of how your main competitor has made it this far.  His rule-breaking and illegal modifications to his car have given him an advantage all season.  You know this, but most others just think he is that good.  You don’t mind losing straight up, but it really bothers you that you have followed the rules to the letter and are coming up short as a result.  As you attempt move after move to catch up, your every effort is thwarted.  It is almost as if there is a conspiracy against you!

Your Feelings

How do you feel at this point?  What are your emotions?  Do you question your strict adherence to the rules?  Do you wonder, just for a moment, what difference it might have made if you had just bent one rule, maybe two?  Do you envy the points leader and his apparent success?  If none of these thoughts have entered your mind, then you are better than me.  I think it is just natural to think this way, no matter how hard we try to avoid it.

The News

Anyway, back to the race.  Your helmet speaker crackles with static and you hear your crew chief’s voice.  He tells you that he has heard from a very reliable source that the NASCAR officials have learned about the points leader’s practices and they have proof.  It appears they are going to let him finish the race, but his title (and the rest of his trophies) will be stripped from him. Stunned by the news, you don’t exactly hear the rest of the consequences he will endure, but you get the sense that you no longer envy his position. The bottom line is that as long as you keep up your pace and finish the race, you will get the crown.

Still Feel the Same Way?

Now what are your thoughts?  How do you feel now?  Do you still question your blameless practices?  Do you still wonder what one or two bent rules would have meant to your season? Is there any envy of the other guy left in your system?

Go right now and read Psalm 37 – the whole chapter.

It is not long, but it is good.

The Verdict

Do not let the world’s scoreboard alter your path.  Do not let the apparent success of the wicked bring envy to your heart.  Trust God to do what He says He will do.  Follow His path, finish the race, and you will get the crown (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Do you get caught up in what the world says is most important?

Do you let the success of dishonest competitors eat at you?

Will you trust what God’s Word  says about the fate of those competitors?