Happy birthday to Ken Jennings, the current host of Jeopardy! and born on this day in 1974. Most remember when Jennings was a contest and Alex Trebek was the host. Jennings won a record 74 games before being defeated in Game 75 on November 30, 2004. At 30 years of age, he had just won $2,522,700 and in 75 games, he had answered 2,694 trivia questions correctly. He answered 264 incorrectly and had 213 unforced errors (incorrect answer after a buzz-in).1 That means he got 82.3% of his questions right! Amazing!!
In 2022, Amy Schneider was well on her way to breaking Jennings’ record. However, she tapped out at 40 wins. Recently, Jamie Ding was well on his way with 31 wins, but the streak was broken by Greg Shahade. Jamie walked away with $882,605 and is in fifth place on the leader board.
During a post-taping Q&A with the audience, Jennings was asked if he was concerned about Jamie Ding breaking his record. Jennings graciously and humbly replied, “That would be a record that nobody’s beaten for 20 odd years. I would be very excited, actually. Are you imagining me just getting more and more [upset] with every game? [Jennings and the audience is laughing as this is said] If he wins, I’ll eat my hat or you know…” [at this point, the person asking the question interrupts and says,] “Well, he could take your job?” [again, lots of laughter, especially from Jennings as he comically says,] “Yes, that’s what happens. If you hit game number 75, a trap door opens beneath me and I disappear.” Then, with seriousness, Jennings says, “I am, of course, perfectly impartial at every game but I actually believe that my record can be beaten, and I just hope I am hosting when it happens.”2
That interaction with the audience member is priceless and speaks well of Jennings. And this is the attitude we need as Christians concerning the work of the Lord.
I don’t think that there’s any doubt that Paul was the premiere evangelist of the New Testament. He traveled 9,000 – 10,000 miles, preached in about 50 cities or villages, started about 14 different churches, and saw lots of people saved.
How did Paul feel about those who were doing what he was doing? Did he feel threatened that he might get upstaged? Was he worried that someone might travel farther, preach in more places, or see more people saved? Consider what we are told in Philippians 1:12-18.
“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; (13) So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; (14) And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (15) Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: (16) The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: (17) But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. (18) What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”
All Paul cared about was that the Gospel was going forth. If it went forward in big ways or small, by his efforts or the efforts of others, or if people did it in support of him or antagonistic against him, Paul didn’t care. There was no spirit of competition, no rivalry, and no envy in his heart. He just rejoiced that God’s Word was proclaimed.
Today, let’s rejoice in the efforts of all who want to tell others about Jesus. If they surpass what we’ve accomplished, rejoice that you had the privilege to see it.
Think about what Jesus told his beloved disciple when the disciple thought that Jesus’ position was being threatened. Let it remind us that we are not in competition and our egos must be checked at the door.
“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. (50) And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” (Luke 9:49-50)
1https://thejeopardyfan.com/statistics/ken-jennings-final-statistics#google_vignette
2https://x.com/Jeopardy/status/2045306451909120323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2045306451909120323%7Ctwgr%5Ec3087e5a6b4d9307a1d2c97e020d5341d836f9fb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.detroitnews.com%2Fstory%2Fentertainment%2Ftelevision%2F2026%2F04%2F18%2Fken-jennings-weighs-in-on-jamie-dings-jeopardy-win-streak%2F89675878007%2F
The photo of Ken Jennings is from his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=736254626395020&set=pb.100044388250953.-2207520000&type=3
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
