A Noncompete Clause for Church?

What might we experience in our congregations if we chose to sign a figurative contract of noncompetition?

You may be familiar with the legal concept of a noncompetition agreement. It’s a contract drawn up to ensure, among other things, that an employee won’t share sensitive information (such as client lists or trade secrets) with another company for competitive gain. It’s most often used in industries that experience heavy competition (think sales, research and development, and legal services, to name a few).

But the effect of competition in an industry is not the focus of this blog post. What captured my attention about the phrase was how it might apply to a community of women.

Imagine what it would feel like to be among women in an environment of no hostility, filled instead with love, encouragement and acceptance.

The downside of competition

It’s no secret: women are competitive! We may not express it or put it into action in quite the same ways as men. For women, it’s generally not as much about physicality. How many women do you know who have actually resorted to fisticuffs or other forms of physical competition, for example? For women, the act of competition is usually a more covert act, sometimes even downright catty. (Yes, there are, of course, exceptions.)

Consider some of the ways women negatively compete with each other:

• The “have-it-all” wife, mother and full-time business owner gloats on Facebook about balancing every aspect of her life perfectly.

• The “one-upper” always has a better story than you do, is always busier than you no matter how much you are doing, and always knows more about every subject than you do.

• The “backhanded complimenter” always knows how to deliver a compliment, as long as she ends up looking better than you in the end.

• The “need-to-share-and-compare” woman constantly reveals personal details about herself and finds out yours, so she knows how to rank everyone around her.

You and I both know there are more examples we could list, but searching out others’ opportunities for improvement is ultimately a fruitless and unrewarding experience for us. It’s also dangerous territory for us mentally and spiritually.

Dueling perspectives

It’s true: Some women are clearly more gifted in certain areas than others. And I by no means wish to discourage or insult the women who joyfully share their healthy, passionate pursuits and talents and see them through to fruition!

But there is a clear difference in the fruits of a woman who joyously shares an accomplishment in a way that shows honor to God, who gave her that talent, versus a woman who gleefully shares an achievement in a way that merely honors herself. Consider the proverb: “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion” (Proverbs 11:22). The imperative to let someone else praise your accomplishments also comes to mind (Proverbs 27:2).

We might ask ourselves prior to publicizing something: Am I sharing this with the intent of “provoking one another” and stirring up envy (Galatians 5:26)? Or am I sharing this out of pure joy for a gift God has given me, with no “selfish ambition or conceit” (Philippians 2:3)?

After all, “our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5); He gives us “every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17); and the entire planet and everything in it, including us, belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1).

Healthy competition

So is competition ever a healthy pursuit? Is it ever constructive? Consider these scriptural concepts:

• Run the race to win the crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

• Examine your strengths and weaknesses (1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5).

• Keep reaching for the prize (Philippians 3:13-14).

• “Fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12).

And these are just a sampling of the scriptures that encapsulate proper, healthy competition—the kind that is motivational and is used as a tool for personal improvement.

Think of it as a competition with yourself. Are you a better “you” today than last year? Are you more closely emulating Jesus Christ this year?

Terms of agreement

With this perspective in mind, our focus should be on building each other up, instead of engaging in a negative spirit of competition. What if we encouraged each other to achieve our full potential? Built a support network of prayer and in-person visits as needed? Provided help during times of depression and loneliness? Gave each other the courage to develop our God-given strengths and gifts and helped one another discover new ones? And what if we didn’t leave anyone out?

We can start working to create a nourishing environment that encourages growth, peace and stability in our congregations. We can spend time with each other, pray for each other and keep in regular communication throughout the week. In time, we’ll notice an outgrowth that permeates into our families and communities.

Noncompetition clauses in the business world are not usually looked on favorably by the individual employee since they typically protect and benefit the employer. But a spirit of noncompetition among God’s people is one of unity and mutual benefit. In a world filled with so much negativity and strife, that sure sounds like a welcome relief to me!

Where do I sign?

Debbie lives with her husband, Guye, and their son, William, in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area. Competition has been known to arise in their household when there is a disastrous shortage of chocolate.