by David Brenneman
"But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another." Galatians 6:4.
6:4-Refuse to fall to the trap of comparing yourself to other people or competing with them to see who is the better Christian. We are all de-
pendent upon God's grace for every good thing in our lives, including our growth (see James 1:17). Rather, measure your progress according to the Lord's standards and make sure that you are walking in accordance with His will. Because then instead of undermining others because of jealousy, you will reach out in compassion and minister to them as Christ would. (Notes from the Life Principles Bible, Dr. Charles Stanley.
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17.
It's an easy thing to do, this comparing yourself to others. We live in a society that, for decades, has pushed comparing yourself to other's in their successes and their failures. That you need to measure yourself against something or someone to know where you stand.
In Christ, we all stand before Jesus Christ with His righteousness being seen and not our own. There's nothing to compare that to for any who are indeed among the saved in Christ.
We do ourselves and others a serious disservice by following the world's ideologies in this. We likewise should never be introducing such things to new believers either.
We are all on the same playing field. We are all walking in step with the same Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We do not see a single instance of Jesus acknowledging or condoning any kind of competitive spirit between the Disciples. In fact He teaches the exact opposite.
It's where we learned about servant leadership. It's how we learned that Jesus didn't come to be who the Jews really wanted Him to be.
There's this and other such opposites to consider.
"And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”" Matthew 20:24-28.
We are to come along side of others in the faith to lift them up, to be an encouragement, to help them along the way in their becoming more like Jesus Christ. It's not a competition, it's a compassionate caring to see others becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
We began our sanctification when we came to Christ. We continue it while we yet live. We will see it's completion when we stand before Jesus in His Heaven. That is the path of life for all who claim the Name of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
We damage ourselves and our thinking when we begin this comparison game. We begin to be blinded to the damage we do to ourselves and others. We alienate people because we spoke or acted without consideration for the consequences of the same.
"But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." 1 Corinthians 8:9.
"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves." Romans 14:13-22.
"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." Philippians 2:14-16.
So my Dear Reader, we need to be careful. Paul only used food as an example because of the particular audience he was addressing but the concept aligns with everything in the world.
We shouldn't give a hint of anything by words or deeds that causes someone to stumble.
Paul, if he knew, caused someone to stumble he says he would never do it ever again.
We could hardly do worse to be more sensitive to the needs of others. Meeting them in their time of need and not ignoring what our hearts in Christ are showing us that we need to be doing or saying.
While we do read of Paul's exhortation to run the race as to win the prize...it's a singular race. Our running with Jesus and nobody else. Jesus always wins but we are to only compare ourselves to Him in how we are progressing in the sanctifying transforming work He began in us.
Are you someone who prays with an honest heart? Are you one who listens for the word of the Spirit of God in your life?
Or are you listening to others instead? Are you following other's bad examples of how literally not to live a right and acceptable life in Christ?
Don't be fooled...these erroneous concepts are being introduced and have been in many many churches who all claim that there's nothing wrong with them. Paul wrote of the last days when such things would be preached and taught as good things.
We are to bear one another's burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. If you're into comparing yourself you're not to likely to be considering other above yourself.
Look at your relationships and consider those whom you're not in a relationship with any longer. Consider if there's evidence that your erroneous thinking or actions lead to where that relationship is today. Is God honored by you in how you might have introduced comparing yourself to other's?
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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