The Comparison Game

            Mark Powell, a professor of theology at Harding School of Theology, shared an article recently about the danger of comparing ourselves to others.  He begins this way:

“It is a mistake to compare ourselves to others. Yet we still do it, even in our walk with Jesus.  Of course, there are people with exceptional gifts, or highly visible roles, or a clear calling for a specific ministry. It is easy to be envious—and even fool ourselves into thinking that it’s a holy envy—when God appears to be working so clearly in the lives of others, but not so clearly in our own lives.  Maybe we are enduring a season of suffering, or long-term suffering, that others don’t have to face. We ask, “Why me, God?”  Or maybe there is someone who has made a big spiritual impact on us, and we want to be like them and bless others in similar ways. The only problem is, we are not our spiritual heroes and that is okay. God may be calling us to something else.  There are many ways we compare ourselves to others. The comparison game, though, keeps us from seeing who we are and how Jesus is calling us to follow him.”*

Powell goes on to point to the post-resurrection encounter between Jesus and Peter at the end of the gospel of John as an example of playing the comparison game (John 21:15-22).  The temptation, especially when the difficulties of following Jesus come, is to compare my situation with that of others.  It’s easy to divert attention to others when I am confronted with the weight of my own call to discipleship.

I must remember that I am called to follow Jesus.  The call the Lord issues to others won’t look exactly like what He requires of me.  Lord, when the struggles come, please help me not to point at others and ask, “But what about this person?”  Help me to focus on my own discipleship and avoid the comparison game.

God loves you!

Mike

*http://wineskins.org/2019/12/05/you-follow-me/