November 28
The Comparison Trap
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. ––2 Corinthians 10:12-13
When I’m going through a rough patch, sometimes it helps to compare my situation to others. As in, “This is a really hard time, but it’s not as hard as what poor Bill is going through right now.” It’s all about context and perspective, right? And to clarify, it’s not that I get joy or satisfaction out of other people’s suffering; it’s more about reminding myself that no matter how bad things are, I need to be mindful that a lot of other folks are suffering as well.
Comparing ourselves to others is human nature, but it’s not God’s nature. He sees each of us as unique, one-of-a-kind creations, with no two of us exactly the same. The first comparison in the Bible was when the devil tempted Eve and said, “For God knows that when you eat from [the Tree of Knowledge] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). It was a setup, and the goal was to tempt Eve into wanting more than what God knew was good for her and Adam. And so the insipid comparison cycle began, continuing when Cain compared himself to Abel and killed him out of jealousy.
To clarify, there’s nothing wrong with taking a healthy look at your life compared to common standards. For example, if a person is 25 pounds overweight for their age and height, it’s a good sign that they might want to exercise more and eat healthier. That’s a healthy comparison that can motivate someone to improve their quality of life.
No, what I’m talking about is when we allow insecurity and jealousy to seep in and cause us to compare our lives to others. Even though it’s a trick the devil has been using since the Garden, we still all fall for it—some more than others. What Paul is talking about in today’s opening passage is when we boast about ourselves, which takes our eyes off God and onto us. So whether we are walking in arrogance (commending ourselves over others) or insecurity (comparing ourselves as less than others), the result is the same: Drifting away from God’s best for us.
The comparison game is a lose-lose proposition. Why? Because no matter how good you are, there’s always someone better, faster, stronger, richer, etc. If you think about it, it’s a great tool for the enemy to use to distract us from the truth: We are enough—in and of ourselves—in God’s eyes. He created us with the exact gifts and strengths we possess, and placed as on this Earth at the exact time according to His will.
The only Person we are called to emulate is Jesus. Isn’t it awesome that God gave us the perfect standard against which we can compare our thoughts and actions? In Jesus, we have the exact model we need to live a life that pleases God. It’s Jesus plus nothing, folks. No one compares, therefore we don’t need to keep searching for security in the world’s standards. The more we mature in Christ, the less we even want to be like anyone else!
Father, I know that when I compare myself with other people, it just brings frustration. Help me to let go of the world’s standards and only pursue the type of life that You want for me.