When I was a kid, I hated with a passion losing at any kind of game. It wasn’t easy to accept that I couldn’t roll the perfect number, hit the perfect shot, or play the perfect card every single time. These days, I still would much rather win than lose, but I’m not willing to win at all costs, and I’m happy when I know that I gave it my best shot. I see my six-year-old son struggle with things sometimes not going his way, and I pray he’ll have an easier time learning that lesson.
Life is about much more than winning at whatever pursuit we engage in, but most people still have an idea of how they would score themselves. We may indeed be winning when we build a happy family life or are successful in our careers or have a tight circle of good friends. And these things are indeed important. It’s human nature to seek for a happy, successful life, but as Christians, our primary goal is to live a life in alignment with God’s Word and His ways. That’s God’s definition of winning.
One time, Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is. His answer gives us insight into how He might define a victorious life: “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”1
That’s a simple enough definition, but of course, it’s not that easy to live up to, right? Thankfully, we’re not on our own. God may not care who wins a tennis match or a card game, but we can count on His help with the things that really matter. He wants us to triumph in the things that matter: “I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory.”2