“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong... but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
— Ecclesiastes 9:11
We were - two men walking down the street - when we noticed something simple, yet deeply spiritual.
A bike man who had once taken us on a ride spotted us again. Thinking we were heading in the same direction, he revved his engine and drove across the road to meet us before we even waved. Why? He wanted to beat the competition. Other bike men stood close by, yet he acted. He moved. He positioned himself ahead of the others.
A few steps later, we got to a marketplace. What did we see?
Competition. Ruthless competition.
Everyone was selling the same thing:
- Water.
- Garri.
- Maggi.
- Pepper.
- Fried yam.
- Phone chargers.
And everyone was calling, shouting, tugging at passersby for attention. You could literally feel the desperation.
Then my friend turned to me and said,
“This life is all about competition.”
That sentence hit me hard.
Why the Christian Man Must Wake Up
Dear brother in Christ, I write this with all soberness and urgency:
You are not excluded from the battles of this life simply because you are saved.
Salvation gives you peace with God - but not a free pass from the marketplace of life.
There is a competition for your influence, your income, your marriage, your children, and your destiny.
If you’re passive, lazy, unstrategic, or always waiting for prophecy to fulfill itself without wisdom and work, your destiny might be overtaken by those who are less gifted but more focused.
The World Is Not Waiting for You
Let’s be honest:
- Your business has competition.
- Your dream job has thousands of other applicants.
- Your children are being taught daily by a system that wants their minds before you can teach them truth.
- The woman you’re married to needs direction—and if you don’t lead, the world will lead her.
Even your own spiritual growth is a battle. Miss a few days of intentional feeding on the Word and prayer, and you’ll see how quickly spiritual lethargy creeps in.
The problem is not the enemy.
The problem is often the Christian man's passivity.
Biblical Men Were Strategic Men
Let’s be clear:
The men in the Bible who thrived understood life as a battlefield and a business field.
Here are a few examples:
- Joseph did not just interpret dreams - he gave a national economic strategy.
- David didn’t just write psalms - he led military campaigns and ruled with order.
- Daniel was so excellent in administration that kings kept him around through four regimes.
- Paul wasn’t just a preacher - he was a tentmaker, a networker, a letter writer, and a travel planner.
None of these men sat down doing nothing waiting for God to “bless them.” They were in motion, building, competing, strategizing—and God partnered with their excellence.
Jesus and the Business of Souls
Even our Lord Jesus was strategic.
“I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” — John 9:4
He didn't waste time. He understood the shortness of the window.
He targeted cities, sent teams, and trained disciples like a military commander would.
Why? Because He knew the field was full of competitors - false teachers, distractions, religion without power.
If You’re Not Strategic, You’ll Be Replaced
This might be hard to hear, but it’s true:
The market does not reward good intentions.
The world does not pay you because you’re anointed.
The internet does not promote your content just because you’re a Christian.
If you run a business online and don’t study trends, marketing, SEO, pricing strategies, or customer behavior - someone less gifted will take your clients.
The world doesn’t care if you’re a nice guy.
The world responds to value, visibility, and consistency.
Wake Up! The Field Is Crowded
Whether it's ministry, tech, agriculture, digital skills, parenting, or even marriage - you are not the only one.
So what should the Christian man do?
7 Real Steps to Compete Like a Godly Man
| No | Step | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pray for wisdom | Without divine direction, you'll labor in vain. |
| 2 | Study your field | Know your terrain—read, listen, research. Don’t guess. |
| 3 | Master excellence | Let your work speak for itself. Stop rushing mediocrity. |
| 4 | Be visible | You can’t stay hidden in the name of humility. Shine. |
| 5 | use community | No lone rangers. Build alliances. Build credibility. |
| 6 | Mentor others | Pour into others. It multiplies your impact. |
| 7 | Remain godly | Don’t compete by compromising. Win by integrity. |
Don’t Be Lazy, Brother
You have the Holy Spirit. You have the mind of Christ. You have the power of prayer.
But you still have to show up, plan, and build.
Proverbs 24:30–34 says:
“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding… and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns…”
This isn’t a joke. Neglect brings poverty.
Final Thoughts
Dear Christian man, you’re in a competitive world. Not a carnal competition - but a competition for impact, relevance, and dominion.
God gave you power.
Don’t hide it under a basket.
You will give account for your gifts.
Don’t say “God will do it” while you sleep all day.
Say instead,
“God will do it - through me. And I will move as He leads.”
A Prayer for You, My Brother
Lord, awaken your son reading this right now.
Break the chains of laziness, of passivity, of delay.
Give him fire in his bones. Give him strategic clarity.
Open his eyes to see opportunities, to rise early, to push through rejection.
Teach his hands to war and his mind to build.
Let him thrive - not for ego - but to glorify You in this competitive world.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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