Competition

It is good to hear that Ofgem, the energy regulator, is seeing whether consumers, like us, are getting good value for money from our energy suppliers. Competition in the market place has its value.
Many of us enjoy playing or watching one sort of sporting competition or another. My own favoured competition is against the clock, when I go swimming. The challenge to do better, or beat the other side, helps to raise the game.
But in our spiritual lives, we are not in competition with one another. 
Jesus told this wonderfully hopeful story. “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ (Luke 18.10-12)
The Pharisee thought that his spiritual life was one where he scored more points by being better than others. But all of us may find ourselves comparing ourselves with others in the way our lives are going.
But the heart of our relationship with Jesus is one of trust and love. We are not on a performance related benefit scheme, or being paid by commission for good works done. We can come to Him, as did the tax collector in Jesus' story. '“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18.13-14)
What a relief!
Best wishes,
Richard