In the corporate world you know how important it is to climb that ladder of success. You're aware of all the politics involved in climbing that corporate ladder.
If your superior doesn't like you, your career is doomed. No matter how good a job you do, if you are not liked; you will go nowhere. That's just the way things are.
Tragically, a similar manipulative spirit has attached itself to the church. You can seek to impress people in their presence and act entirely different when they are not around.
You can rub elbows with the pastor, hoping to gain some special place in his heart. A good pastor will not be affected by such scheming. He will only do what God tells him to do.
If he can be influence by your behavior, he can be controlled by other things more powerful and more lethal.
The good pastor has discovered that God-ideas are always better than good ideas, because God's ideas are already anointed and will get results. Good ideas may be only that, good ideas.
They may go nowhere and produce nothing. Are you serving in the church only to promote yourself? Do you have an agenda to advance in order to receive glory from men?
The first step in defeating the spirit of competitive jealousy is to examine your motives. As you do, remember, competitive jealousy can take many forms.
Young pastors may begin to compare their churches to those of other pastors. That is competitive jealousy. They need to keep their eyes on Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Nothing but more stress and futile efforts result from watching statistics and comparing their congregation to that big church down the street.
Women often try to run the pastor's wife or attempt to usurp authority by pushing their agenda for the women's ministry. A battle ensues between those competing for attention and limited funds.
Church fights can get ugly. Women controlled by the spirit of competitive jealousy can wreak great havoc in an otherwise healthy body. Associate pastors with big dreams and visions don't always remain satisfied with submitting themselves to the pastor.
Many fall into the trap set for them by Satan. "What does he have that I don't have," they say to themselves. "I can preach just as well as he can. God speaks to me, too."
A lead singer may attempt to overrule the choir director because she knows she is the only one in the choir with the range to sing a certain song. Everybody in the choir begins to compare themselves to her.
Following her example, there are suddenly too many chiefs and not enough Indians. A soloist whose voice cracks every once in a while, but sings from her heart, is much better than one who sings flawlessly but is motivated by competitive jealousy.
Secretaries can become possessive of their job duties. They can be heard to remark, "Why is she doing that? That is my job. I wonder why I wasn't told about this."
It is truly amazing how fast your words can run. The fastest thing in this world is not some supersonic jet. It is gossip whispered by competitive lips to jealous ears.
Entry-level staff members frequently try to elevate themselves on the organizational chart. When they join the staff, they try to figure out ways to stroke their superiors to gain approval.
These are just a few of the manipulative ways the spirit of competitive jealousy can be manifested.
We must uproot every symptom of this spirit from our heart. We must align our lives with the Word and determine to walk in the spirit of love, submission, and wisdom!
Excerpt permission granted by Creflo Dollar Publications