Right now, if you think of your closest friends, who is the smartest? Prettiest? Trendiest? Loudest? Richest? Strongest? Do you find it funny that we know the answer to these questions? Deep down inside of us in our human condition is the need to compare. We love sizing up a room to know where we stand. When it comes to issues of morality, we are no different. Since the beginning of time we have been saying things like, “Well at least I’m not as promiscuous as her.” “Well at least my gossiping isn’t as bad as her alcohol habit.” “At least when I sin no one gets hurt.” Or maybe your inner critic says, “I’ll never have it as together as her. My sins are more disgusting than hers,” or, “I wish my sin was anything other than this.” The problem with comparing our righteousness to others comes when we realize we are using the wrong measuring stick.
Comparing Apples to Eternity
Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
Watch Session Two: Why We're Broken
how we really measure
What if instead of comparing yourself to others, you tried to compare yourself to God? When we take our eyes off other broken people and place them onto the triune, we see how silly our comparisons were before. Imagine arguing with someone that you might have a millimeter of height on them and then realizing God’s height is higher than the heavens. Imagine trying to compare apples to oranges only to realize you were meant to compare apples to infinity. Do we even have words to quantify and qualify those comparisons? Our sin separates us completely from God, even if we think we have a leg up (or down) on our friends.
stop the lies; look to god
We can list so many reasons why comparison wrecks us. For starters, it robs us of joy, it causes us to commodify humans, it tempts us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and it makes us competitors when we are meant to be companions. But, more dangerously, the problem with comparison comes from demanding that we keep our eyes fixed on others and ourselves. Yet Scripture tells us no one is righteous (Romans 3:10). The longer we keep our eyes at earth level, the more destruction we tend to create. Instead, look to the heavens and ask yourself, “How do I measure up to his standard?” The gospel does not say that God comes to save us comparatively, in how we are doing compared to those around us. Instead, the gospel says every person needs total and perfect salvation to overcome our lack of righteousness.
Daily Question
In what areas of your life do you tend to compare yourself to others? How might God be trying to get you to fix your eyes on him instead?
Comments (10)
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I tend to compare my social status and my sin with others. I think I’m weird and that I’m a total broken failure compared to others around me.
I think that in some ways it is healthy to see my sin and brokenness for what it is, and to view myself as the worst sinner I know. This allows me to also see my deep need for a Savior. However, when I focus on just my sin and not my Savior, I forget the cross and I forget the fact that I am forgiven. This doesn’t honor God. God wants me to see my sin and bring it to Him, not stay there and wallow in it.
He wants me to stop focusing on what others think of me and focus instead on what He thinks of me.
Well…I compare myself to others in almost every area of my life. I KNOW comparison is the thief of joy and everything…but still, I find myself constantly questioning how I measure up to those around me: friends, family, people I don’t even know on social media. God wants me to fix my eyes on Him and see what He sees and love as He loves. He doesn’t "save us comparatively." I’m trying to remember what He says is what matters, and He is my only judge.
I feel like there are many areas I compare my motives or thoughts to others actions. I know this is huge, because my actions probably don’t look any different to theirs, but I “give myself a pass” based on my motivations. God sees all our thoughts motivations and actions and if anything God seeing our thoughts and motivations aren’t helping in our “goodness level” because we are all broken especially in our thoughts. The other thing I tend to do is read the Bible with terrible blinders and think “our lives are so much more complicated than theirs were” so this will look different than it says. When in reality, I know that there is nothing new under the sun, and truth is truth no matter the time even if our idols look different.
I think I compare myself most to my spouse and co workers. I think the Lord corrects me by showing me my own actions. I also am doing the actions I am judging . He see me.
He always helps me with scripture ,and prayers, to first admit my sin,turn from it and follow His way not mine. Sometimes it is hard to admit I am still learning ,but in the end I see I needed to be corrected and change my perspective.
On so many things. After reading this it shows me how I should be looking at God instead.
I occasionally, more often than not depending on where I am "at" that day in my walk with the Lord. Meaning if I sought Him out that day or if I thought "I can handle this myself" I will notice myself comparing myself to where they are, or what they’re doing or what I don’t have.
Thankfully when I get in these modes, If I don’t consciously bring it to God in prayer, I find myself bringing my concern to my husband who reigns me back in.
I don’t believe there to be on certain area because satan doesn’t work that way he doesn’t let us notice just 1 thing it ends up being a whole mess of things we compare ourselves too or with.
If I start my day with God and talk to Him constantly and pray fervently and Study scripture or Read my bible consistently I see that I am less likely to put myself if that "what if" scenario.
I do this in my job at times. I say to myself that they could have allowed me the opportunity the new job or promotion instead of the new person I trained, yet I do not get it. Bi always stop myself though and remember that God was gracious to allow me this work, and that there is a plan, a path for me, far bigger in design than wordly thoughts of work. I then remember to thank Him for my job and ask him daily what His true work is for me.
I find myself competing with people for looks, money, how holy someone presents outwardly. I think to myself that I can’t possibly be as good or as faithful as that person. Look how she has it together in all areas of her life.
I compare myself most to people who "have it all together." I realize that everyone is on their own path and no one person is even remotely like the next. I compare myself to those in my small group the most I guess because they are my closest friends in my life right now. We are relatively around the same age so it easy to compare myself to them and where they are in life and why I am not in that stage yet. Or comparing myself to a stupid model in a magazine. Wanting the body that have. I think that is where I compare most. That and other women’s walk with God. I see someone dancing and being care free in their worship and I wish I could be that way in mine. Or I listen to someone praying and wish I could pray like that. With me being a "new" Christian (returning after a 10 year hiatus) I find myself being jealous of woman around me that have been living this way their whole lives. They seem so sure and strong in their unwavering convictions of the Lord. I want what they have with God, but I know that knowledge and level of faith takes time and commitment and dedication to God. Something I am working on every single day.
I believe comparison is one of the biggest downfalls for women as a whole-we all are guilty of it in some form.
I tend to compare my worst to someone’s best…this has caught me in so many disappointments that I have to remind myself constantly to look UP! Keep my eyes on Jesus and in the word…who God says I AM even in my insecurities and failures…