What Does the Bible Say About A Competitive Spirit?

James 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

2 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Proverbs 27:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Genesis 6:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ...

Genesis 5:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. ...

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

18 Bible Verses about A Competitive Spirit

James 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 27:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 6:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 5:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

18 Bible Verses about A Competitive Spirit

James 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 27:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 6:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 5:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

James 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 27:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 6:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 5:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 1 helpful vote