Galatians 6:4 NIV
“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,”
As a Christian should engage in comparison, is it healthy to?
The Bible is clear on the answer to such question, comparism is not wise and it’s not of GOD.
2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”
Personal testimony
I’ll tell you for me how GOD changed my perspective or you can say gave me light on the topic of comparison.
Myself and my friends we talk, we talk about our plans, to marry, have kids, buy houses, cars, settle you know; apply for residency, relocate…..
And myself and some of my group of friends we had been discussing on application for PR and buying houses, so savings was a big thing for us; how much you have, will have at the end of the year. And as much as I knew, I wasn’t doing so bad again in comparison with my friends; my measure of success when comparing with my friends wasn’t so bad….
And then when God was taking me through my rod of financial discipline, one day; God will tell me to give a sacrificial offering. By Gods grace and only by God’s grace I did.
And this was what changed my measure of success for me.
My measure of success changed using my friends or material things as a standard. If you live a life of obedience to God you will know you can’t use that or compare yourself.
why?
Because their focus, purpose, need, desire, priority is different from you as a child of GOD so why should you use worldly materialistic stuffs to measure your self worth?
Because if I give it all up and have nothing am I a failure obeying GOD? That’s why you need to really think about what you measure yourself against.
And it just made me realize; I can’t measure myself against them, what they had achieved, bought e.t.c It should be in obedience, and not in my how much you have, material things fade away but what stands the test of time is your obedience to GOD.
How you measure yourself with determine how you compare yourself. We don’t have the same goal, priorities, focus so why should I compare?
II Corinthians 10:12 NKJV
“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
2 Corinthians 10:12 TPT
“Of course, we wouldn’t dare to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. They compare themselves to one another and make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and then they judge themselves by their own standards. What self-delusion!”
Again, we are to not compare ourselves. Like the Bible says; comparism isn’t wise. It isn’t smart. It isn’t of God.
Can comparison be only on material things, what about spiritual?
Which brings me to the title of this post:
What about John?
John 21:21 NKJV
“Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?””
John chapter 21 tells us of the visitation of JESUS to his disciples, the third time HE appeared to them after HIS glorious resurrection.
John 21:17-19 NKJV
“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.””
We see from verse 15 how JESUS restores Peter and commissioned him to feed HIS lambs, take care of HIS sheep’s; JESUS even went ahead in verse 18 to prophecy how Peter would die for the gospel to the glory of GOD and then he went ahead to call Peter to Follow him.
so we see GOD restores him and calls him to follow
And we see Peter’s response to JESUS call to Follow HIM in verse 21:
John 21:20 TPT
“Then Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the disciple who sat close to Jesus at the Last Supper and had asked him, “Lord, who is the one that will betray you?”)”
John 21:21 NKJV
“Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?””
His reply to JESUS’S call was to ask JESUS about John, it wasn’t to tell Jesus yes I’ll follow you, or ask for grace, strength or even know more about his assignment, mission; his response was to turn around and ask, what about John’s commission.
Enduring word says
Jesus just renewed His challenge to Peter, follow Me(John 21:19) and Peter’s first response was not to tell Jesus yes, but turning around he looked at the other disciple, John. Peter first response to the personal challenge from Jesus was to deflect it by wondering what Jesus wanted to do regarding someone else.
And honestly, Peter represents most of us, even me.
Instead of Peter to focus on what JESUS had called him to do, he was curious about another’s persons assignment. We find it easy to deflect any personal challenge from Jesus by wondering and even worrying about what other disciples are doing or what Jesus may require from them.
Yes we are all called to preach the gospel; we as Christian’s have a cooperate mandate but our Christian race is individual, GOD calls us to work in individual, specific, unique ministry to the goal of seeing JESUS revealed, JESUS glorified.
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
The main point is the plans I have for you, thought I have towards you; Even as one body of Christ we can have different roles/mission/assignment to play, so we shouldn’t be looking at what other people are doing or be concerned about people’s ministry, we should only focus on ours, or personal race with GOD.
Echoing what Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER says
Whatever God has given you to do for Him is important and special. There are no ‘little’ assignments. What you do for Him is as precious in His sight as what I do. So don’t feel your work isn’t important, or notices, or appreciated by God. Don’t judge or compare one Christian with another. And especially don’t underestimate the value of the unique contribution God has given YOU in His Kingdom.
At this point, Peter was more focused on what JESUS was calling others to do in following Him than what HE was calling Peter to do.
And JESUS answer to Peter is the same to us on how we should deal with the issue of comparing.
John 21:22 TPT
“Jesus replied, “If I decide to let him live until I return, what concern is that of yours? You must still keep on following me!””
Jesus told Peter to not worry about John or any others person work/ministry/commission; but instead he should just keep on following HIM.
Ligonier says
Jesus essentially responded to Peter that it was none of his business what would happen to John (v. 22). If He had a different course for John, that was up to Him, and Peter was not to worry about it. Peter was to follow Jesus and be faithful in his calling no matter the consequences, even if he would suffer differently from others. The same is true of us. We are to be faithfulj where God has placed us, not envying the calling of others or being discontent if their trials are different from ours.
His call for Peter to follow him was a personal call to follow him not considering what others are doing and HE is saying the same thing to us; just follow JESUS.
Why should we bother ourselves with others ministry, call?
This can lead to
Pride
Contempt
Strife
Comparison
Jealousy
Our response should be to run our own race with all humility and diligence.
So we see in whatever matter, in ministry, material passion, in life we should never ever compare.
We will be Measured
Oh yes, we will be measured; the works of our hands will be judged by God.
Hebrews 9:27 NKJV
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV
“For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”
Remember Belshazzar in the book of Daniel, his actions were weighed and he was found wanting:
Daniel 5:25-28 NKJV
““And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.””
So what will God measure, what will matter at the end?
Remember the parable of the Talents told in the book of Mattew chapter 25? the main lesson learn is we must use the talents we have been given—the Holy Spirit, understanding, skills and abilities He has given us—to grow spiritually and produce fruits to Gods glory.
God will judge the life HE gave you, the money, talents, ministry…; how you used it for HIS glory.
Romans 2:6 NKJV
“who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:”
Romans 14:12 NKJV
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
Revelations says 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
Having said that; we shouldnt also judge anyone’s ministry, they will give account to GOD, we are not to be standards to them; GOD is, the Bible is.
Romans 14:13 NKJV
“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”
Whether it’s comparing ourselves to others in our personal lives, our careers, our appearance, or even in our spiritual journeys, comparison can steal our joy and distract us from God's unique purpose for us.
The Bible provides wisdom and guidance on this matter, reminding us that God has created each of us for a distinct and divine purpose.
Galatians 6:4-5 (NIV) reminds us that our path is our own, and God has called each of us to carry out specific responsibilities. There is no need to look left or right, but instead, we should focus on doing our best with what God has entrusted us with.
"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load."
Comparison clouds our understanding of our own worth and purpose. When we engage in comparison, we can lose sight of how wonderfully and uniquely God has made each of us (Psalm 139:14).
2 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV):
"But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding."
When we compare, envy often sneaks in, robbing us of peace, contentment and gratitude.
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV):
"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
Remember, we are God’s masterpiece. we don’t need to compete with others or feel inadequate because our value and purpose are found in Him. The good works He has planned for us are uniquely ours!
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV):
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Let’s end with something profound Joyce Meyer said
Now, if you truly trust God, I can tell you there’s no need for you to ever be jealous of anybody. If you believe God loves you and has a plan for your life, and if you believe that His timing is always right, there is no need to envy a single person.
prayer
Lord I thank you for all you have done, are doing and will still do in my life. Lord; I ask for the grace not to compare my life with anyone’s or anything, give me the grace to be content, to trust YOU and follow YOU always LORD. That the assignment you have placed in my hands I fulfil with all diligence and I run my race with you LORD with all humility and grace🙏
LORD I thank you because my life doesn’t consist in the things I posses, help me to be continually fixed on YOU always LORD; I love you forever and eternity more LORD, in whatever way I have compared myself with others and showed lack of trust in YOU LORD, envy, jealousy, spite; I genuinely plead for forgiveness
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