I have been thinking about success a lot lately. What is success? How do we recognize success? Mostly, though, is success as a Christian defined by the same (or at least similar) metrics as we see in the world around us? That question brought me to thinking about trophies and the concept behind them.

Miriam-Webster defines a trophy primarily as: “something gained or given in victory or conquest, especially when preserved or mounted as a memorial.” That seemed less clear than I hoped, so I modified it slightly for our purposes: “a trophy is a symbol recognizing an individual’s (or team’s) accomplishment, success, or victory.” Most frequently, trophies are found in the realm of athletic competition and for centuries have been the desired goal of all participants. In American team sports it has even been taken to another level that involves extraordinarily fancy rings as personal commemorative trophies for everyone on the team. It is important in our culture to be seen and recognized as the best.

Interestingly, there has been a hard pivot away from awarding trophies to victors in some parts of society. The pivot has moved to a “participation trophy” model where the celebration is focused on everybody who participated, not simply on the eventual victorious individuals or teams. Usually, the argument for these types of trophies is that it is to acknowledge the hard work individuals put in to perform in the event or activity. The main argument against them is that it rewards mediocrity and does not encourage individuals to strive for greatness.

This change in paradigm is a divisive one…it seems participation trophies are either the greatest or worst idea ever with no real middle ground. I confess I have old-school, traditional feelings on this and at times I wonder if this change has diminished the meaning of a trophy by offering one to everyone.

As I mentioned last post, I have been spending much of my personal devotional time recently in the book of Philippians. In chapter 2, Paul writes of the humility of Jesus; His coming from heaven, becoming human and finally dying on the cross. He also writes that, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.” Jesus Christ is the ultimate victor in the eyes of the Father. The symbol of that victory – His trophy, if you will – is the Cross! If we update our definition of a trophy from earlier, we get: The Cross is a symbol recognizing Jesus’s accomplishment, success, and victory.

Even more wild is that this trophy has both aspects of our previous discussion; it is the symbol of Jesus’s victory and His alone, yet at the same time He extends that victory to all who believe in Him. Somehow, in God’s amazing way, the Cross is both the most glorious individual trophy and the perfect participation trophy as well. Rather than diminishing the meaning of the Cross by offering it to everyone, Jesus exalted it.

The rest of the letter to the Philippians is comprised of Paul confessing this single work of Christ is what compels him in his ministry and that his followers should do likewise.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. ¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained. ¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. (Philippians 3:7-17)

Rather than simply accepting mediocrity because of his participation trophy, Paul goes on and becomes essentially the father of all Gentile Christianity. Prior to his conversion Paul (Saul at that point) was an elite Pharisee…if there were trophies for Pharisaical righteousness at that time, he would have won. Yet he considered all that to be garbage compared to the trophy he received that he did nothing to earn.

While I am still not convinced the participation trophy model is best in human competitions, God’s plan is immune to our depravity. This might be one of those instances where we cannot understand the how or why of God, but we can certainly praise Him for it. I am thankful for the participation trophy of eternal life that I could never have earned or won on my own. As always, I pray that you have been encouraged by this post and that you are thankful for your trophy as well. Blessings to you all!