“Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours.” Galatians 6:5-6 ESV
“Don’t compare your weakness to their strength.” – Nitin Namdeo
Harmful. For you and the other person.
Dismissive. Of you and the other person.
Lacks compassion, empathy, healing or growth. For you and the other person.
Feels good, perhaps, but accomplishes nothing for anybody, except envy and strife.
Always lacks information that is not your business. It’s between them and their Father.
You’re giving someone, probably a figment of your imagination, space in your head rent free that belongs to you and the Father.
We have no idea what a person has gone through to get where they are. None. I envied someone with lots of money until I found out they lost a child to addiction. They would trade their money for their child.
Comparing keeps us focused on the wrong things and not on the right things—who we are becoming in Christ.
Some compare losses as if one loss is greater than another.
What good is comparing in any form? Shall I compare my loss of my husband to a veteran who has lost his legs? The great losses the Floridians experienced after the hurricane to a domestic abuse victim?
Comparing my success is just as futile. My idea of success is raising a loving and healthy family while another is joining the Red Cross. Which person is more successful? It reminds me of 1st Corinthians where there was big trouble! Tongues or prophecy? Teaching or evangelizing? Paul says, “The greatest is love.” Takes care of comparing. Puts the focus on the right things.
Whether a believer or not, I find Galatians 6:4–6 very wise counsel: “Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours.”
Musings
Here’s a wake-up call: “We all fall short of the glory of God.” If we’re going to compare…The beautiful thing is when we surrender comparing, our Father shows us things we didn’t know about ourselves that are essential and life-giving. After all, he made us.
Prayer
Dear Father,
It’s true. Compared to your son, we fall terribly short. With him, we become like him with no comparison. The greatest accomplishment is love.
Help us to remember when comparing to another that we sure don’t know the whole story. Help us to put our focus back on you where success truly lives. You made us all with unique talents, goals and accomplishments, which are designed just for us and your glory.
Prayers and Musings of a Black Sheep 