"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Cor 10:12
We have a tendency of looking at other people and asking ourselves and God why we aren't like so and so person. We all want someone else's life. We refuse to take into account the fact that the course of life we have been called to run and our purpose is different from the other person's own. We do not know what cross the person has been called to bear, we only see the "glory". To paraphrase the joke, "The grass is always greener on the other side, but you need to see the guy's water bill."
We also tend to compare ourselves with others based on the labels we put on ourselves or allow others to place on us. However, if the labels do not conform with the Bible, then they are not valid. I have looked at Bible from cover to cover and I am yet to find where it says that there is a "conservative" Christian and a "liberal" Christian. The fact is that you're either a Christian or not. As the famous quote goes: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”
Comparing ourselves with others mostly causes us pain. We most often come out worse from comparing ourselves with others leaving us feeling depressed. We therefore need to stop comparing ourselves with others whether they are friends, colleagues or siblings. We should be concerned about our own race, not theirs. In the end, we will give account of our own life and not theirs.
We should also not allow others to do the comparing no matter how much we respect them. Life is too short to be worrying about what the other person has and we don't. We should live our lives grateful for the things we do have knowing that God will provide what we need. If the things we think we lack are the things we need, God will give them to us in the course of time.
We have a tendency of looking at other people and asking ourselves and God why we aren't like so and so person. We all want someone else's life. We refuse to take into account the fact that the course of life we have been called to run and our purpose is different from the other person's own. We do not know what cross the person has been called to bear, we only see the "glory". To paraphrase the joke, "The grass is always greener on the other side, but you need to see the guy's water bill."
We also tend to compare ourselves with others based on the labels we put on ourselves or allow others to place on us. However, if the labels do not conform with the Bible, then they are not valid. I have looked at Bible from cover to cover and I am yet to find where it says that there is a "conservative" Christian and a "liberal" Christian. The fact is that you're either a Christian or not. As the famous quote goes: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”
Comparing ourselves with others mostly causes us pain. We most often come out worse from comparing ourselves with others leaving us feeling depressed. We therefore need to stop comparing ourselves with others whether they are friends, colleagues or siblings. We should be concerned about our own race, not theirs. In the end, we will give account of our own life and not theirs.
We should also not allow others to do the comparing no matter how much we respect them. Life is too short to be worrying about what the other person has and we don't. We should live our lives grateful for the things we do have knowing that God will provide what we need. If the things we think we lack are the things we need, God will give them to us in the course of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment