BE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part I)

SCRIPTURE: “Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else.” Galatians 6:4 (CSB)
Throughout my life I must have received thousands of lessons from different sources—from parents to pulpits—about the downside of comparing myself to someone else. It’s one thing to comparison-SHOP for various goods and services—we want to stretch our hard-earned dollars and maximize benefits for ourselves and those of our household. Still, when the topic of comparing oneself to others comes up, we discover a sure recipe for discouragement and misguidance. We’ve likely been told from our earliest years that there’s always someone smarter, richer, stronger, more popular, more famous, more successful than we are! What should we do with that realization? Do we cease striving for excellence? Do we become indifferent to self-improvement? Do we succumb to laziness, or the irrationality of envy and covetousness? Do we simply drop out of the game entirely? Drop out of ministry? Out of the…whatever! (You get the point).
The God of heaven must know how prone we are to comparing ourselves with one another. Reflections on the lives some Old Testament personalities and quite a few 21 st century people can highlight the harm engendered by habitual comparisons. Re-examine the root of the relational and spiritual troubles that unfolded between Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1-16), Kings Saul and David (1 Sam. chaps. 15-31), Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:19-34 & 27:1-45), Leah and Rachel (Gen. 29:15-35), the older brother and prodigal son of Luke 15:11-32--- to name a few! A common thread through all of these relational narratives was the perception that another’s blessings from God exceeded one’s own. In each situation, it is easy to recognize that the person exhibiting resentment over another’s perceived advantages blamed God in their heart for their lack of blessings---whether or not they were conscious of this fact. King Saul’s endless comparisons of himself to David made his life a cautionary tale from which we may learn valuable lessons to this day about the discontentment and ensuing evil of succumbing to the comparison trap.
PRAYER: Lord God, we humbly thank You for being the Author of diversity—not as sinful man defines the word—but within Your divine standards of excellence. We need not be simple replicas of one another in the body of Christ to fulfill Your varied and endlessly wonderful purposes. AMEN!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
The God of heaven must know how prone we are to comparing ourselves with one another. Reflections on the lives some Old Testament personalities and quite a few 21 st century people can highlight the harm engendered by habitual comparisons. Re-examine the root of the relational and spiritual troubles that unfolded between Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1-16), Kings Saul and David (1 Sam. chaps. 15-31), Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:19-34 & 27:1-45), Leah and Rachel (Gen. 29:15-35), the older brother and prodigal son of Luke 15:11-32--- to name a few! A common thread through all of these relational narratives was the perception that another’s blessings from God exceeded one’s own. In each situation, it is easy to recognize that the person exhibiting resentment over another’s perceived advantages blamed God in their heart for their lack of blessings---whether or not they were conscious of this fact. King Saul’s endless comparisons of himself to David made his life a cautionary tale from which we may learn valuable lessons to this day about the discontentment and ensuing evil of succumbing to the comparison trap.
PRAYER: Lord God, we humbly thank You for being the Author of diversity—not as sinful man defines the word—but within Your divine standards of excellence. We need not be simple replicas of one another in the body of Christ to fulfill Your varied and endlessly wonderful purposes. AMEN!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Archive
2023
January
MOVING INTO A NEW YEAR AND LEAVING YOUR BAGGAGE BEHINDEncouraging You in the New YearA Veteran StudentAll of God’s Gifts Are Wrapped in JesusThe Gift that Keeps on GivingA Faith That’s Signed and SealedI Remember Grandma (Part I)I Remember Grandma (Part II)Roots Growing DeeperSTANDING IN HIS PEACEBE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part I)BE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part II)TIE A YELLOW RIBBON...[Part I]TIE A YELLOW RIBBON... [Part II]The One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IThe One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IIThe One That Got Away [Until Now] PartWINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part I]WINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part II]HE KNOWS!Godly Hope vs. Positive ThinkingHope DeferredCalled To Endure!The Greatest Expectation!The Ear and Eye GateCourage, Saints!!Getting to Know Him- Little By LittleSame Storm Different Boat pt2The Apron of ServanthoodGetting to Know Him- Little By LittleConfess It as Sin!
February
People Are Laughing Out Loud at My BibleMe, Myself, and I (Depression)I Have to Qualify to Run the RacePreach, Preacher!Does He Know You?LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part I)LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part II)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part I)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part II)PRAISE God for WITNESSES!Sock LintSock LintNO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part I)NO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part II)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part I)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part II)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part I)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part II)MORE THAN 'SUPER,’ MORE THAN 'HERO'!HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part I)HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part II)MAKE FEBRUARY THANKSGIVING HISTORY MONTHTAKE HEED HOW YOU WALKTrust and ObeySpiritual ImmaturityMake It PersonalCain was Able and So are YouClimate Change
March
Loving My SpouseStop! In the Name of Love!Ask Not, Have Not!Beneficial GraceThe Incomparable ChristRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IIDETRIMENTAL DELAYSFootprints On the Mountainside Part IFootprints On the Mountainside Part II...I SMELL SMOKE IN THE AUDITORIUM...The Heartbeat of His HeartThe Wayward and The ObedientThe Potter and His Vessels of ClayGod Can Use Anybody!You’re Canceled!Today’s Assignment!There You Go, Again!I Messed Up!The Worker and The Work!Repent and Obey!God Can Reach Anybody, But Will You?Wonder Working PowerThere is Work for You to Do!Yes, God Does Reveal Himself to Us!Now Hear ThisImperfect, But Usable!Preach the WordGod Can Save AnybodyThe Hard WordThe Message of Salvation from God
3 Comments
Thanks for this encouragement and admonishing. Let us praise God for the way He has gifted the body of Christ. And Lord, when I find myself jealous of another, I want to confess it as sin right away.
Amen, and Amen, sister Diggs. Excellent illustrations of comparing from the Holy Scriptures.
Amen. Such an enlightened message in this devotional. Thanks for sharing.