Antidote to Comparison

We have all heard the saying: "Comparison is the thief of joy". Comparing ourselves to other people will often times lead us into sadness, lead us to covet what others have and not be content with the blessings that we have. But what if you are the one that people are comparing themselves to? What if you were the kid that other parents said their kids should be like? What if for you, comparison is the source of pride?

I grew up as a Pastor's Kid (PK), I got good grades in school, got good score on my SAT, went to a good college, and graduated with a master's degree and went on to get a good job. At church, I did well in Sunday School competitions, went to cottage meetings, talked to the adults at church, served in various position and helped out wherever I could. I was the model child.

Often these thoughts lead me to a recurring flaw in my character: self-righteousness and pride.

When I'm the only youth attending a prayer meeting with other adults, often these are the thoughts that go through my head. "Why can't the other youth sacrifice their time to spend in the presence of God like I do? Why do they not pray and know the Bible like I do?" The logical conclusion of these thoughts, that are never verbalized is: "I'm better than the other people around me. I'm more spiritual. I have my life in order and am successful. I'm generally better than those around me."

Isaiah 2:12 says, "The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled). It is imperative that we fix our pride because it is a character trait that God hates.

The standard message to this has been: Don't compare yourself to others, compare yourself to Jesus. Although this is true, I have yet to consistently apply it. Here is a another perspective on it with some methods to apply it:

The source of your salvation

I must learn to combat self righteousness by remembering that the source of my salvation is not my good works. God says that our good works are like filthy rags in the light of God's holiness. The source of my salvation, and the source of my neighbors salvation is the same: The Blood of Jesus shed for my sins. Before each meeting, before each act of service, before each act of worship, I need to remind myself of the source of my salvation.

"Heavenly Father, these good works I am about to partake in bring me no closer to heaven and will lead to death if I rely on them to save me rather than on your sacrifice on the cross."

Repent Daily

The reason that pride sneaks into my life is that I am not comparing myself to God's standard of holiness. Self-Reflection and repentance has to become a daily habit. Every night or every morning, I must learn to reflect on the previous day. Were there moments where my speech was displeasing to God? Were my thoughts righteous in God's sight?

"Heavenly Father, I am the man with the plank in his eye. I am so quick to see the faults of others, while not reflecting on my own. Make me righteous in YOUR eyes rather than in mine."

Pray for Others

If the people my age, do not come to church what is the attitude of my heart? My immediate response is not to be heartbroken, instead the posture of my heart towards them is pity and disdain. "Thank God I am not like one of them." This is my inner thought, very similar to a certain pharisee praying in public. If I genuinely cared for their spiritual wellbeing, my response would be to pray and intercede for them to find their way back to God.

"Heavenly father, let me have a genuine concern for the state of my generation. Let my first response to the failures of my generation be to intercede for them."

Hold fast to God, not your blessings

Take account of the things that cause you pride. Reflect on what the Bible says about these things. Is it your looks? The bible says "beauty is fleeting". Is it your physical capabilities? The Bible says, "youth and the prime of life are fleeting". Is it your education or job? Your job is not guaranteed to you. Is it money? What is wealth without health?

"Heavenly father, let me remember that my blessings are your gift to me but they are not guaranteed. Let me like Job be able to say: The Lord gives and he takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord."