Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2007 Spring Issue -- 'Win-Win' Wisdom!

Faith in God promotes “win-win thinking” and demotes “loser logic.” Loser logicgoes something like this:: 1. If we give unselfishly to others, we night sabotage our own future.; 2. When another church is built near ours, they might steal our sheep.; 3. If we give to missions overseas, we'll lose our grip on our local mission.; 4. When others are blessed abundantly, it somehow subtracts from my prosperity.; 5. If my candidate loses, all goodness will evaporate from the universe.

By contrast, here are a few examples of “win-win thinking:”: 1. The cheerful giver who does not keep all his time, talents and treasures to himself wins as God opens up the floodgates of heaven to bless him richly, as others share their time, talents and treasures with him.; 2. The girl who does not give her body away cheaply reduces health risks, gains self-respect, earns trust and raises the level of her value in the heart of her future husband. She also wins by misses out on guys who just want her body and would not have been faithful to her in return.; 3. Adoptions are often powerful win-win scenarios. The orphan gets good parents who want and love him/her and the parents see a dream come true and a deep desire fulfilled. And a girl/woman who refuses a convenient abortion, saves a human life while also, perhaps, allowing a childless married couple to begin a family.; 4. In economics, reducing tax levels can relieve a burden on wage-earners, but also increase incentive to work and hire workers who in turn will add more tax-payers to the rolls. The nation’s revenue can actually rise with lower tax rates.; 5. In business, every mutual transaction is (ideally) a positive response to someone’s ability to meet the felt needs of other people. Good business is when both parties benefit in the deal.

You get the idea. God is great with fringe benefits.

Our church takes up a special contribution every year for “Lifeline of Hope,” an international outreach for needy orphans. Some concerned members worry that this will diminish our regular church contribution. But it never does. In fact, on such days, our regular giving rises.

God’s word also confirms the “win-win” spirit. Paul wrote, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Corinthians 9:6). God has a way of enlarging the harvest of your righteousness. Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) Begin with obedient faith and you end up winning in ways your never imagined. In fact, he is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Ephesians 3:20)

Still, “win-win” thinking is not enough. God wants “win-win” ACTION!

Volunteer to tutor students at a local school. You get smarter and so do they--a win-win!
Help out with housework or yard work for someone who is physically unable to do it. You make a friend and get stronger and healthier at the same time--a win-win!
Offer transportation to someone who needs to go to church or to the grocery store. Church attendance rises and you get an inside track on making a new friend.
Take in foster children. They get to live in a caring home and you get a wonderful opportunity to influence a young person for Christ.

The Bible says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24). You cannot lose with love!

Beyond all this, all losses sustained on earth are dissolved at heaven’s golden gates. That’s why Paul could write, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). This is the ultimate win-win scenario.

Joel Mark Solliday, B.A., M.Div., is the editor of Campus CrossWalk and the pulpit minister of the Northern Light Church of Christ in Minnesota. A Pepperdine graduate, he later served as a Missionary in Residence at ACU. He earned his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. His wife Katie is a junior high school teacher.