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| http://lucrenshaw.com/2012/02/06/tell-me-tell-me/ |
Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison
is the thief of joy”. This strikes
a chord with me. How much of my
life do I spend comparing myself to other people? How long do I focus on my
inadequacies and feeling that I am not enough? I so often look around at other people succeeding and
thriving, and I wonder why I’m not where they are. It’s all about comparison and it’s a downward spiral towards
hopelessness.
The Message translation of Galatians 5:25-26 says, Since
this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make
sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our
hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means
we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and
another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each
of us is an original.
Paul knew that comparison steals
joy. He knew that when we are
living in the Spirit, we are not to focus on how we measure up according to those
around us. What truly matters is if we are living in the will of God and
fulfilling His purposes. Focusing
on how we compare to others distracts us from living the life that He has for
us. God could be calling us each
to something amazing according to His standards, but we miss out on it because
we are afraid of the responses of those around us.
What are you closed off to because
of comparison or fear or shame? Is it that opportunity to mentor a young
person? Or a mission trip you just don’t feel experienced enough to go on? Or
maybe it is even attending Sunday School because you’re afraid others will see
your flaws. God can use you and
grow you in incredible ways if you stop allowing comparison to paralyze
you. Refusing to compare yourself
to others is not easy. If
comparison has been a practice for you like it has been for me, stopping will
take time. But we can do it
through becoming aware of when comparison is our motivator and refocusing on
the Voice of God.
God doesn’t see us as one better
than another. Rather, He loves us more than we could ever imagine—infinitely
more. But accepting that love is
difficult. Believing that God has
forgiven my sins and sees me as worthy is so tough when the world, and
sometimes Christians in the world, remind us of our inadequacies. When we use shame and legality to try
to change people, we are working against God’s desire for the church to love
others. God doesn’t shame us. He doesn’t make us earn His love by acting in all
the right ways. All we have to do
is accept the gift of Jesus, and we are redeemed. Through the lens of the cross, there is no comparison. Christ died for one and Christ died for
all. If comparison is the thief,
Christ is certainly the giver of joy!
Be Blessed,
Shauna
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