We are at the heart of the NBA Finals, where the stakes are high, and greatness is on full display. This year, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers battling it with two of the world’s most remarkably talented teams, each pushing themselves to the limit in pursuit of a championship.

What is striking, though, is not just the on-court talent or the buzzer-beater drama. It is what happens after the games, specifically in the interviews with the winning team’s star players. Repeatedly, these athletes do not spend their airtime boasting or diminishing the other team’s efforts. Instead, they offer praise for their opponents and gratitude for their teammates. They talk about trust, effort, and how every single player, starters, and bench players alike, played a vital role in winning the game. There is a mutual respect that runs deep, a sense that greatness is not just individuality, it is collective in a team effort.

It is special to watch. You see competitors among the best in the world, not only play hard but honor each other along the way. They are not just trying to prove they are better than someone else. They are trying to bring their best, for the team, for the win, and often, for something bigger than themselves.

It made me think: life often feels like a never-ending competition, doesn’t it?

Whether it is in our careers, our relationships, sports, goals, or even our spiritual journeys, there is a constant pressure to be “the best.” We hustle to outperform, to climb higher, to be seen as more successful or more valuable than the next person. While competition is not inherently bad, it can sharpen us and inspire growth, but it can easily become a trap. When it shifts from healthy motivation to a source of pride or identity, we lose sight of what really matters.

The world says, “Be number one.” God, on the other hand, calls us to something far better: humility in how we live.

In Philippians 2:3, we are reminded, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” That is a radically different mindset than what we see celebrated in most arenas of life. But it is also the foundation of a life that honors God.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. Though He had every right to assert His authority and claim His place, He did not lead by dominance. He led by serving. He washed feet. He ate with the rejected. He gave His life for people who did not deserve it. His greatness was not measured by how much power He had, but by how much He gave.

So, what about us?

Why do we compete? Is it to feel validated? To prove our worth? To be admired or accepted? Or is it to honor God with the gifts He has given us, and to serve others along the way?

True greatness is not about being ahead, it is about lifting others up. It is about playing the game with integrity, with humility, and with a heart that reflects Christ.

Imagine if we redirected our drive, not just to win, but to love better, serve more, and build people up. What if our energy went toward advancing God’s kingdom rather than our own image? What would our teams, workplaces, and families look like if greatness were defined not by trophies, but by the lives we touch?

Ask God to help reset our focus. Pray for the humility to value others above yourself, and the strength to compete, not for status, but in step with the One who has already won the race for us.

My pastor has been teaching in Ephesians and how to walk in love. He said to walk in love is to understand our heart and that begins by being a follower of God.

Greatness is not just a game; it is how we walk in this life.