Comparing Ourselves

What happens when we compare ourselves to others?

We’ve all heard about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others. First of all, we have a tendency to look at others through the world’s perspective. There are those who are better looking, richer, more accomplished, more talented, less socially awkward, and so many other categories determined by popular standards. These comparisons can leave us feeling discouraged, disheartened, and inferior. On the other hand, we could feel superior at the expense of another.

Both are two sides of the same coin, pride. I have often thought that pride is at the route of most of our sins. Think about it. Lying, cheating, stealing, greed, judging, gossip, and so on, all are efforts by us to lift up ourselves, to appear better in others’ eyes and to gain what others have, whether status or objects. If we judge others as better than us, is still a type of pride, where we are acting as judge of worthiness. Only God can judge each of us. Just remember, pride led to the downfall of Satan, who wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-15).

True determination of excellence is pleasing God. We need to do what God called us to do to the best of our ability. If it is to work in the marketplace, then if must do that as if working for the Lord, if it is staying home and raising children, it is to be done with the desire to raise Godly children. There are no small jobs, no small prayers, and no small ways to love others with the love of Christ. In our lives, we go through different seasons but the one thing to keep in mind is that nothing stays the same. God willing, we pass through childhood, being a teenager, adulthood, and senior years and during our time on earth touching one life for Christ is as important as evangelizing a thousand in kingdom terms. The only thing we’re to do is to invest the talents that God has given us.

“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:11) We are not all the same body part, but we are all part of the body.