So You Think You're Not Good Enough?Mfano

They are better Christians than I am

When it comes to being a Christian, how do you measure a person’s faith?

You can’t.

Faith is intangible, and it cannot be measured. Basically, you either believe or you don’t. To put it into a modern perspective, faith is “digital,” not “analog.” The digital world has only two settings: on or off. Whereas the analog world is a continuum. Time is analog, and knowledge is analog, but faith is digital.

You either have faith, or you don’t, and you cannot measure faith by degree.

So, if you cannot measure faith, how can one Christian think or believe someone else is a better Christian than they are? They can’t because it can’t be measured.

Just because one Christian has a higher profile, or their ministry is more visible, or they seem to be more “spiritual,” it does not make them a better Christian than you are. It is foolish to think that you are less than someone else.

Jesus showed this in the parable where a householder hired laborers to work in his vineyard for a denarius a day. Some started early in the morning, and he continued to hire throughout the day right up until an hour before quitting time. But when it came time to receive their wages, all were paid the same rate: one denarius. All were treated equally, and all received the same reward.

It’s the same with us. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done, all Christians will receive the same reward. We are all equal in the sight of God. So, if God thinks we are all equals, why would we think we are a worse Christian than someone else?

The Apostle Paul wrote that to compare yourself with someone else is foolish.

“…when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” (2 Corinthians 10:12)

Jesus also made this point when talking to Peter. Jesus had commissioned Peter to care for the flock of God after Jesus had returned to the Father. But Peter wanted to know what would happen to John. Jesus basically said that it was none of Peter’s business. He indicated that Peter needed to follow Christ and not worry about the walk of others.

And that’s the point. Your walk is personal, between you and God. Where someone else stands with God is irrelevant, as they are at a different place in their walk.

To measure yourself against someone else is devilish. It is a trap to try and make you either feel inferior or proud, both of which are traps of the devil.

Call to Action:

Christianity is not a contest to see who is best. As the scripture says, “…many that are first will be last, and the last first.” Only God can judge.