Lord, Help My Critical HeartShembull

Killing the Comparison 

Today we read from Romans, which was written as a letter from the apostle Paul to the Roman church. There was plenty of division in the Roman church due to cultural differences between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Their divisions and differences threatened to knock them off course as ambassadors of Christ. 

The same is true for us today! The world and our sinful nature urge us toward division much more quickly than unity. We play along when we believe we are right and those who disagree with us are wrong. It's tempting for me to think that anyone who lives out their faith differently than I do is doing it wrong. It’s easy to feel that our value is based on how successful we are, how we look, or whether we seem to have “it all together.” But this comparison has no place in the family of God. 

 

Have you heard the saying, “We rise by lifting others?” It’s not scripture, but it is a biblical principle. Take Jesus’ statement that, “whoever would be great among you would be a servant of all.” Or the idea that “the first shall be last.” The way of Jesus is just not compatible with the desire to prove ourselves.   

We’re each uniquely created, called to the unique set of circumstances in which God placed us. Our goal then is to be focused and fully present to faithfully living our own life. Someone else’s act of obedience will not be the same as yours. Not all of us are going to write books, be on a stage or have the perfect Instagram feed with tons of followers. Your real-life may look nothing like what you envisioned for yourself. But what is placed before you means no less to God. He works in the hidden details and we can too. 

 

Make the choice not to look left or right in comparison, but to run whole-heartedly on the path where He has placed you. When we internalize the truth that others’ success does not threaten or diminish ours, we can celebrate with our sisters and brothers in Christ, rather than finding their flaws- in order to feel better about ourselves. This is a freeing and fruitful way to live! 

Surrender step: Write down the main roles and responsibilities of your life. What would it look like to run wholeheartedly forward in those things? What might change if you say no to the distraction of comparison?