---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's always the threat of \"spiritual…"
description: "\"There's always the threat of \"spiritual one-up-manship\" that we must avoid.\" — Sam Storms"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/sam-storms-12070_avoid_there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-o_850977.png"
---

#  There's always the threat of "spiritual one-up-manship"…

![“There's always the threat of "spiritual one-up-manship" that we must avoid.” quote by Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/sam-storms-12070_avoid_there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-o_850977.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/sam-storms-12070_avoid_there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-o_850977.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/sam-storms-12070_avoid_there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-o_850977.png)

> “There's always the threat of "spiritual one-up-manship" that we must avoid.”

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We must avoid trying to out‑spiritualize others, as it creates rivalry rather than growth.

**In simple terms:** Don’t compete in spirituality.

Key Takeaway

Focus on personal growth.

Themes

spirituality humility community

Mood

thoughtful serene

Type

reflective inspirational

When to use this quote

- church groups
- personal meditation
- spiritual retreats

Key Concepts

spiritual competition growth mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you support others’ spiritual journeys?
- What practices foster humility?

A Different Perspective

Competition can harm genuine connection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/)

## Related quotes

> [“This is not a promise, this is not threat, it's just the way it's gonna be!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/this-is-not-a-promise-this-is-not-threat-it-s-just-the-way-it-s-gonna/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [Change is no threat to culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-davis/change-is-no-threat-to-culture/)

[Wade Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-davis/)

> [The threat is stronger than the execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-threat-is-stronger-than-the-execution/)

[Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/)

> [The threat to the planet is us. It's actually not a threat to the planet - it's a threat to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-threat-to-the-planet-is-us-it-s-actually-not-a-threat-to-the/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-threat-is-usually-more-terrifying-than-the-thing-itself/)

[Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/)

> [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/)

[Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/)

> [The mark of the man is how he responds to situations. You're not going to avoid tough times. We're all over the barrel some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/the-mark-of-the-man-is-how-he-responds-to-situations-you-re-not-going/)

[Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/)

> [I studiously avoid any academic dissections of the play and any kind of previous experience of playing. For me, it's all in the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/i-studiously-avoid-any-academic-dissections-of-the-play-and-any-kind/)

[Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/)

> [Patients' lives are more important than embryos. I do want to avoid the use of embryos if possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinya-yamanaka/patients-lives-are-more-important-than-embryos-i-do-want-to-avoid-the/)

[Shinya Yamanaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinya-yamanaka/)

> [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/)

[Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/)

> [I avoid processed food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/i-avoid-processed-food/)

[Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/)

[Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/)

> [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/)

[David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/)

## More by Sam Storms

> [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [Self-image, the concept we have of ourselves, must begin not by looking in the mirror but by looking into the face of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/self-image-the-concept-we-have-of-ourselves-must-begin-not-by-looking/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [The essence of loving living as a follower of Jesus isn't in trying harder but in enjoying more. I'm not saying you can change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/the-essence-of-loving-living-as-a-follower-of-jesus-isn-t-in-trying/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [Grace is God satisfying our souls with His Son so that we're ruined for anything else!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/grace-is-god-satisfying-our-souls-with-his-son-so-that-we-re-ruined/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [Sometimes people base their identity on their gifting. But our identity is in Christ and ultimately has no relation to whatever gift the Spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/sometimes-people-base-their-identity-on-their-gifting-but-our/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [There are no term limits on His reign. He has always been King and He always will be King. There is no death that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/there-are-no-term-limits-on-his-reign-he-has-always-been-king-and-he/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [God has sovereignly pulled back the curtain on His glory. He has disclosed Himself on the platform of both creation and redemption that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-has-sovereignly-pulled-back-the-curtain-on-his-glory-he-has/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [The single most important principle I ever discovered is this: the goal or purpose of the Christian is precisely the pursuit of happiness -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/the-single-most-important-principle-i-ever-discovered-is-this-the/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [Everything without God is pathetically inferior to God without everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/everything-without-god-is-pathetically-inferior-to-god-without/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to bestow it in the presence of human merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/grace-ceases-to-be-grace-if-god-is-compelled-to-bestow-it-in-the/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [The Spirit has determined that he will operate through certain means and at certain times and if we sinfully put obstacles or warnings or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/the-spirit-has-determined-that-he-will-operate-through-certain-means/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [Adultery is an obvious violation of the rights of another. You are stealing what doesn't belong to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/adultery-is-an-obvious-violation-of-the-rights-of-another-you-are/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [Many Christians are either woefully deficient in their knowledge of Scripture or noticeably devoid of any experience of God's power. The Lord never intended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/many-christians-are-either-woefully-deficient-in-their-knowledge-of/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [ A hypocrite \[is the one who\] wants to impress others with an external facade of religious piety that he knows is devoid of internal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/a-hypocrite-is-the-one-who-wants-to-impress-others-with-an-external/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [The Christian is not free to do what the Bible forbids. Christian freedom does not entail the right to fornicate or to steal or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/the-christian-is-not-free-to-do-what-the-bible-forbids-christian/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

[Explore all 56 Sam Storms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

## More Avoid quotes

> [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/)

[David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/)

> [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/)

[Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [I avoid processed food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/i-avoid-processed-food/)

[Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/)

> [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/)

[Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/)

> [Patients' lives are more important than embryos. I do want to avoid the use of embryos if possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinya-yamanaka/patients-lives-are-more-important-than-embryos-i-do-want-to-avoid-the/)

[Shinya Yamanaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinya-yamanaka/)

> [I studiously avoid any academic dissections of the play and any kind of previous experience of playing. For me, it's all in the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/i-studiously-avoid-any-academic-dissections-of-the-play-and-any-kind/)

[Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/)

> [The mark of the man is how he responds to situations. You're not going to avoid tough times. We're all over the barrel some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/the-mark-of-the-man-is-how-he-responds-to-situations-you-re-not-going/)

[Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/)

> [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/)

[Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/)

> [Because Techstars is an intensely productive three-month program in which product development and iteration are primary goals, we're constantly looking to streamline our program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/because-techstars-is-an-intensely-productive-three-month-program-in/)

[David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/)

> [Pacifism as a mass movement aims to avoid suffering; pacifists often say that no cause is worth suffering or dying for. The ethos of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/pacifism-as-a-mass-movement-aims-to-avoid-suffering-pacifists-often/)

[Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/)

> [Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/last-but-not-least-avoid-cliches-like-the-plague/)

[William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/)

> [When I was younger, I used humour as a tool to avoid getting too serious with people - if there was deep emotional stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/when-i-was-younger-i-used-humour-as-a-tool-to-avoid-getting-too/)

[Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/)

> [I'm quite tactile, so I like fabrics that feel good. I try to avoid fabrics that crease - especially with my son. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/i-m-quite-tactile-so-i-like-fabrics-that-feel-good-i-try-to-avoid/)

[Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/)

Browse all 985 Avoid quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There's always the threat of \"spiritual one-up-manship\" that we must avoid.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sam Storms"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-one-up-manship-that-we-must/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Avoid"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-one-up-manship-that-we-must/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/sam-storms-12070_avoid_there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-o_850977.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/sam-storms-12070_avoid_there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-o_850977.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/sam-storms-12070_avoid_there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-o_850977.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There's always the threat of \"spiritual one-up-manship\" that we must avoid.” — Sam Storms",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sam Storms",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There's always the threat of \"spiritual...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-one-up-manship-that-we-must/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/there-s-always-the-threat-of-spiritual-one-up-manship-that-we-must/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```