♥ “For we dare not make ourselves of the
number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they
measuring themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2
Corinthians 10:12
♥ To
compare means to examine the similarities and differences of two or more
things, ideas or people.
♥ Measuring
yourself against another person will do one of two things. It will either puff
you up or pull you down. You can always find someone seemingly less “spiritual” than you, and when you
do, you’ll be puffed up with pride. You can also find people seemingly more “spiritual” than you, yet trying to
equal up to or excel them only leads to frustration.
♥ In
my case, I have a tendency to compare myself in a way that puts me down. When I
compare myself to others in this negative light it can easily become a form of jealousy
and envy and that is a result of not trusting in the Lord’s love and fairness.
♥ Examples of
comparison and their results in scripture
→ 1 Samuel 18:5-9 “And David went out withersoever Saul sent
him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he
was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s
servants. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the
slaughter of the Philistine (Goliath), that the women came out of all cities of
Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and
with instructions of music. And the women answered one another as they played,
and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul
was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, they have ascribed
unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what
can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day forward.”
→Note David only did what Saul told him to do
→Note Saul had as much
opportunity to kill Goliath as David, but it was not his giant to slay, just
like not all ministry opportunities are ours to fill
→Note the women meant their
song as praise for both David AND Saul, but Saul’s pride would not allow him to
be “second best”
→Note where Saul’s eyes
turned. His focus moved from God to David to the point that he was so consumed
with who David was and what David did and what David had in comparison to him
that he no longer had room for God. Instead of working together with David, he
sought to destroy the very person who saved his life not long before when
Goliath belted his challenge.
→Comparison led Saul to pride,
envy, jealousy, discontentment and loss of focus on what truly mattered. He was
no longer doing the Lord’s work, but he was working for the devil.
→ Luke 18:9-14 “And He spake this parable unto certain which
trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men
went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am
not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this
publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I possess. And the publican,
standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote
upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man
went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be
exalted.”
→Note, the Pharisee was
justified in his own mind based on his comparison of himself to another human
being, a sinner, rather than comparing himself against the word of God.
→Note, if the Pharisee knew
his scripture, he would take heed that pride comes before a fall.
→Note, the publican brought
no one else into his prayer but himself and did not try to compare himself to
another. He knew he was a sinner and he knew needed God’s mercy to save him. He
did not even try to justify his own actions by what those around him may not be
doing as well. No one else matters when it comes to you and God.
→ John 21:19-22 “This spake he, signifying by what death he
should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, follow me.
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which
also leaned on his breast at supper and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth
thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus
saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Follow thou me.”
→Note, Peter learns about
his death and immediately seeks to compare to the closest disciple, John. What
about John? Maybe he wanted to know if his own death was fair?
→Note, Jesus response is
perfect. What is it to you? What is it to any of us what God has called another
to? As long as we stay focused on our own calling and our own gifts, we will
all work together like a well oiled machine. It’s when we try to work outside
of our calling and gifts that things begin to wear down and break down.
♥ Comparison leads to
discontentment, whether we are discontent with ourselves and our perceived
abilities, or are discontent with the flaws or shortcomings we see in others.
This is not Biblical.
→
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be
abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed
both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need. I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
→ 1
Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
♥ If you’re going to
compare, compare to our ultimate example, Jesus.
→ 1 Peter 2:21-23 “For even
hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye
were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are not returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
♥ We
all have been given different gifts to be used within the body, but not
everyone’s gift or calling is going to look the same. To compare our gifts with
another person’s gifts removes our mind from our current task at hand, whatever
God has called us to.
♥ 1
Corinthians 12:4-31 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the
same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there
are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in
everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another
the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by
the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the
working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish
between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit,
who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all
the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For
in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of
one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the
foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that
would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say,
“Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it
any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the
sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of
smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as
he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there
are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need
of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the
contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and
on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater
honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our
more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving
greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the
body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one
member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice
together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And
God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and
various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with
tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will
show you a still more excellent way.”
♥ Many
gifts, but for the working of one body and given by the same Spirit.
♥ Covet the best gift…
A more excellent way… LOVE 1 Corinthians 13
Love does not compare, it does not
envy or boast
Love does not compare, it is not
arrogant or rude
Love does not compare, it does not
insist on its own way
Love does not compare, it is not
irritable or resentful
Love does not compare, it does not
rejoice at wrongdoing
Love does not compare, but it is patient
and kind
Love does not compare, but it
rejoices with the truth
Love does not compare, but
it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things
Love does not compare, but it
endures all things
♥
Loving each part of the body, not comparing to make ourselves look better, not
comparing to feel down on ourselves, but working for the same purpose and
loving each other and encouraging one another along the way.
→ Love
does not mean turning a blind eye to sin in the church.
♥ DO
compare each other with scripture. If something is biblically off, tell that
person! Do not allow them to continue in that sin.
“Love
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6
"Do not reprove a
scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man,
and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Proverbs 9:8-10
"If
your fellow believer sins against you, go and tell him in private what he did
wrong. If he listens to you, you have helped that person to be your brother or
sister again. But if he refuses to listen, go to him again and take one or two
other people with you. … If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If
he refuses to listen to the church, then treat him like a person who does not
believe in God or like a tax collector" Matthew 18:15-17
"If
anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him
in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" Galatians
6:1-3
1. Comparisons are always
unfair. We
typically compare the worst we know of ourselves to the best we presume about
others.
2. Comparisons rob us of
precious time. We
each get 86,400 seconds each day. And using even one to compare yourself or
your accomplishments to another is one second too many.
3. You are too unique to
compare fairly. Your
gifts and talents and successes and contributions and value are entirely unique
to you and your purpose in this world. They can never be properly compared to
anyone else.
4. You have nothing to gain,
but much to lose. For
example: your pride, your dignity, your drive, and your passion.
5. There is no end to the
possible number of comparisons. The habit can never be overcome by
attaining success. There will also be something—or someone—else to focus on.
6. Comparison puts focus on
the wrong person. You
can control one life—yours. But when we constantly compare ourselves to others,
we waste precious energy focusing on other peoples’ lives rather than our own.
7. Comparisons often result in
resentment. Resentment
towards others and towards ourselves.
8. Comparisons deprive us of
joy. They
add no value, meaning, or fulfillment to our lives. They only distract from it.
♥ “When comparison sneaks in, it can be hard. Worse than
hard. It can just quite simply make me forget all the strengths I do have. And
when we forget, our hearts shift. We stop being thankful and instead become
consumed by that little thing we don’t have. That's a dangerous place to be.” –Lysa TerKeurst
♥ Think
of something you want that someone else has. A material possession, a talent,
whatever it is that comes to mind. Have you been lured into thinking “If only I
had ___ like that person, my life would be great!”
Now
practice redirecting those thoughts by saying this instead:
I am
not
equipped for her good.
I am
not
equipped for her bad.
I am
not
equipped to carry the weight of her victories.
I am
not
equipped to shoulder her burdens.
I am
not
equipped to be her in any way.
I am,
however, perfectly equipped to be me.
Therefore, thank you God, for only entrusting me with
What
I have and who I am.
-Lysa TerKeurst
♥ Galatians 1:10 “For
do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased
men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
