COMPARISONS
TO WHOM SHOULD WE COMPARE OURSELVES?
2 Corinthians 10:12 . . . Oh, don’t worry; I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves by themselves. What foolishness!
We should not compare ourselves to one another. This causes either pride, jealousy, or discouragement, none of which are healthy.
1 Peter 1:15-16 . . . Now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God-who chose you to be his children-is holy. For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Corinthians 15:49 . . . Just as we are now like Adam, the man of the earth, so we will someday be like Christ, the man from heaven.
2 Corinthians 3:18 . . . All of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
1 John 3:2 . . . Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
We should compare ourselves to God and Jesus. Are we measuring up to the kind of lives God would have us to live. Are we moving toward the kind of faith and obedience God calls us to?
TO WHAT SHOULD WE COMPARE OURSELVES?
Psalm 119:5-6 . . . Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles! Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands.
2 Corinthians 10:13 . . . We will not boast of authority we do not have. Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us, and this plan includes our working there with you.
We are to compare our lives to God’s commands and his way. There is a measure God gives, not to be perfect, but to be godly.
WHAT KINDS OF COMPARISONS SHOULD WE AVOID?
Numbers 16:3 . . . They went to Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! Everyone in Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than anyone else among all these people of the Lord?”
1 Corinthians 3:4-9 . . . When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I prefer Apollos,” aren’t you acting like those who are not Christians? Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we’re only servants. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. . . We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God’s field, God’s building-not ours.
James 2:1-4, 8-9 . . . My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others? For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”-well, doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives? . . . Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s royal command found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law.
We should not compare positions, privileges or possessions. This only causes us to strive for the wrong priorities in life.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHERS?
2 Corinthians 10:12 . . . Oh, don’t worry; I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves by themselves. What foolishness!
Comparing ourselves to others is foolishness. If we’re better we’ll be proud and that isn’t good. If we’re worse we’ll be ashamed and that isn’t good.
John 21:21-22 . . . Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.”
Comparing ourselves to others takes our focus off of Jesus.
1 Samuel 8:20 . . . “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will govern us and lead us into battle.”
Comparing ourselves to others and wanting what they have may cause us to miss what God wants for us.
Luke 18:11-14 . . . The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t sin, I don’t commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.
Comparing ourselves to others may lead to false righteousness, thinking we are better than someone else.
Genesis 31:1-3 . . . Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were beginning to grumble. “Jacob has robbed our father!” they said. “All his wealth has been gained at our father’s expense.” And Jacob began to notice a considerable cooling in Laban’s attitude toward him. Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.”
1 Samuel 18:7-9 . . . This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
Comparing ourselves to others can result in jealousy.
HOW CAN WE AVOID THE DANGERS OF COMPARISONS?
Romans 14:10, 12 . . . Why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God . . . Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.
God looks at us individually. Your neighbor will give his own account to God. We will give our own account to God. We will not account for one another.
2 Corinthians 13:5 . . . Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.
Galatians 6:4-5 . . . Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
We are to examine our own faith and our own actions. We will get to heaven by what we believe, not by what our neighbor believes.
Romans 12:15 . . . When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.
We are to rejoice with others in their successes, not wish their successes were ours.
WHEN ARE COMPARISONS APPROPRIATE OR BENEFICIAL?
Romans 8:18 . . . What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.
Philippians 3:8 . . . Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ.
Comparisons are appropriate when they give us God’s perspective and priorities.
2 Chronicles 30:7-8 . . . Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
COMPARISONS ARE BENEFICIAL TO SEE MISTAKES, CONSEQUENCES.
Psalm 78:8 . . . Then they will not be like their ancestors-stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.
1 John 3:12 . . . We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was right.
Comparisons are beneficial when we can learn from others’ mistakes and consequences.
Matthew 6:5-8, 32 . . . When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! . . . Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
Mark 4:30 . . . Jesus asked, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?”
Comparisons can be helpful in learning and understanding God’s principles.
2 Corinthians 8:7-8 . . . Since you excel in so many ways-you have so much faith, such gifted speakers, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, and such love for us-now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving. I am not saying you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it. This is one way to prove your love is real.
Comparisons can be beneficial if they encourage us to excel in ministry.
PROMISES FROM GOD:
Jeremiah 10:6 . . . Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power.
Psalm 86:8 . . . Nowhere among the pagan gods is there a god like you, O Lord. There are no other miracles like yours.
Psalm 89:6 . . . Who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord? What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord?