Comparison. We know it is a killer. Once it gets its roots into our hearts and minds, it breeds nothing good or beneficial.
We cannot please everyone. Some days it will feel like we cannot please anyone. And in choosing to live according to God’s Word and principles, we are to live only to please Him.
When we do, our lives will not compare to those around us.
We will be welcoming a new grandbaby into the world today. Perhaps by the time this is read, he will already have arrived. He will not compare to our first three grandbabies as they are girls.
And yet the questions will come into my head and probably out of my mouth:
- “How much did he weigh?”
- “How long was he?”
- “What percentile does this put him in?”
He’ll be born into the family of a basketball coach, so excuse those important questions.
We use these percentiles as a means to define the rate of growth or progress, and the rate of movement as in keeping step.
Comparison creeps in from the moment we are born. Even when we know we need to keep from doing it, we do it. We all grow and develop uniquely, each at own own pace.
And this is true both physically and spiritually in our lives. We grow as the Holy Spirit wills and works in us, along with our willingness to let Him work in our lives.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
(Galatians 5:25, NASB)
We need to keep pace with the Spirit – not running ahead nor lagging behind. We are to allow Him to lead the way in our progress, recognizing our spiritual journeys are personal to each of us, and may not look the same as others.
Comparison often leads us to become like others, for we think in so doing, it will lead to success, recognition, or position. We were not meant to be like others, but instead, we are meant to be unique persons unto God.
“Don’t compare yourself to others. There’s no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s their time.” (Unknown)
Eugene Peterson words it powerfully in The Message:
“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.”
No comparisons.
Each of us an original.
Every detail of our lives lived out by His design.
Reflection:
How do you guard against comparing yourself to others? What can you do to focus on your strengths and develop them more fully?
Image by Tina Korsbæk Holm from Pixabay
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