Killing Comparison

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16

It’s so easy for us to look at others and envy them. We wish we had their family, their job, their accomplishments, or really their entire life. We make ourselves believe that we would be better off if we simply had what they have or did what they did. We compare their assets to what we lack. But that is a trick of the enemy to steal our joy and satisfaction in who God made us to be. The enemy doesn’t want us to walk in the abundant life we have in Jesus Christ. Comparison is the root of our insecurities.

The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. John 10:10

On the other side, boasting in comparison can lead to pride and self-righteousness. When we think more highly of ourselves than we ought, we open up the door for arrogance and a spirit of self-centeredness.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Envy- a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck (dictionary.com)

God made us perfectly. Nothing about us is a mistake. He makes no mistakes, it’s not in his nature. The scripture above tells us that God formed us, he knew who we were supposed to be before we were even formed in our mother’s womb. We are each made in his image to accomplish his purposeson the earth. We are all different expressions of God, but we have the same fundamental value that comes from God himself.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them’ make and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

When we lust over what someone else has, we are basically saying “God owes me”.  Andy Stanley talks about this in his book, Enemies of the Heart. He explains how it’s not a problem we have with another individual, it’s an issue between our relationship with God. We believe that if God had given us the same things in which he had given others, we would be better off. That is what the enemy wants us to believe. But no matter how small or how big you feel at any given moment, you still have a part to play in God’s plan for humanity. In God’s eyes, no one person is more important than the other. All things work together. He calls each of us chosen, loved, beautiful, and forgiven.

There are many stories in The Bible that show us what it looks like to be envious and stuck in comparison. Cain was resentful towards his brother Abel because he received favor from the Lord. As a result, Cain murdered his brother Abel. Similarly, Rachel and Leah compared themselves to each other because they both wanted what the other one had. We also see a small bit of comparison between Martha and Mary in Luke 10. In all these situations, we see how comparison can lead to discontentment and eventually sin. Each person had a purpose and their own lives but got distracted when they thought others were receiving a blessing and they weren’t.

When we spend our time comparing ourselves to others, we are wasting valuable time that could be used to sharpen our own skills and talents. It is in these moments of comparison that we allow doubt to creep in and and tell us we are not enough. God didn’t make everyone a singer, an actress, doctor, or a social media influencer. If everyone was the same, we wouldn’t have the other professions that we need to create a productive society.

In 1 Corinthians, it talks about how we are all members of one body coming together to function properly. When you think of the human body you have eyes, feet, nose, etc and each body part is needed to fulfill the overall purpose. Each member is important in it’s own way.

…..Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

In the world of social media, it’s easy to fall into the comparison trap and wanting what someone else has. But the truth is, even if we had all the things we ‘think’ we want, it still wouldn’t be enough. We won’t be fully satisfied until we are satisfied with Christ alone. He is the only one that can fulfill every desire we have.  When we compare ourselves to others, we take our focus away from the many blessings before us and instead focus on our neighbor’s life. We stop progressing in the work God has set before us and instead we chase after the life someone else has. The problem with that is, when we get out of our own lane, we begin striving for something that God never intended on us to have. We create unnecessary stress and confusion by trying to be something or someone other than who God called us to be.

Jesus commissioned us all to go out and make disciples. If we all expressed the exact same story, why would we all need to share it? But because we all have different life experiences, our stories are specific to who we are. When we share our personal stories with others, it gives them the courage to be who they are called to be.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

There is a specific place that needs your presence, a specific person that needs your voice, a specific project that needs your talents, and a specific ministry that needs your gifts. The world is waiting on you. The AUTHENTIC YOU! There is no need to compare because we are all incomparable. Don’t let someone else’s highlight reel become your end goal. Follow the dreams that God has given you and watch your life thrive in ways you could never had imagined. No one else can do you better than you can! The world needs your story, not a duplicate of someone else’s.

So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. Romans 12:6-7 (The Message)

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