Articles
Comparisons
“Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” (Gal. 5:26)
Comparing ourselves to other seems to be a natural instinct for us. Many of our actions and thoughts are motivated by the question, “How do I stack up against other people? Do I stand out? Am I unique?” While not necessarily wrong in all cases (see Phil. 3:17), comparing ourselves against others can lead to serious spiritual problems.
Ultimately, it can lead us to one of two places – jealousy or pride, the evil twins that feed off one another. When someone boasts about something they have and you don’t jealousy swells up in you. Someone once called pride and envy the “demonic duo.” Both often have their root in comparisons.
Pride occurs when the scales of comparison seem to tip in our favor. We have a better house, higher salary, or more attractive physical appearance. It fuels the classic expression of pride: I am better than you. This attitude is certainly not of Christ (Rom. 12:16; Phil. 2:3-4).
We may extend our comparison beyond the physical and become spiritually proud. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their haughty contempt for others. They saw themselves as morally and spiritually superior to swindlers, unjust, adulterers, and tax collectors (Luke 18:9-12). Their comparisons were superficial in that they looked primarily at outward actions and overlooked the arrogance of their own hearts.
We may excuse our sin by weighing our sin against someone else’s. We soothe our consciences by saying, “At least I’m not doing what he’s doing” – or something of the like. A church can be equally guilty by condemning denominations for adopting unscriptural practices while overlooking the division, apathy, or hypocrisy of its own members.
Jealousy, the other side of the coin, is when we ask, “Why don’t I have what he has? Why does she have it easier than me?” Of course, often our jealousy is stimulated more by our perception than reality. People don’t always have it easier than you; you just can’t see the full picture. In fact, they may be thinking the same thing of you!
Discontent is jealousy’s wicked step-mother. If we feel envious, the real problem is that we are unhappy with what we have. The grass is not always greener on the other side; it’s greenest wherever you are now.
We need to remember we all are different. Not everyone will have the same role in the body of Christ, amount of “talents” to use in the Lord’s service, or opportunities in life. We need to stop comparing ourselves with others and get busy evaluating ourselves to see if we are exercising our own abilities and resources faithfully (Rom. 12:6; 1 Pet. 4:10).
There is only one standard we to which we look – Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:2). We cannot be our own standard (2 Cor. 10:12). Nor can anyone else be our standard. The only comparison that really matters is how we stack up against Jesus, of whom we all fall short.
“For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load” (Gal. 6:3-5).
