We’re taught at a very young age to make comparisons in everything we do. Our educational system is based upon how we measure up with someone else. Our jobs are based upon comparisons. If our production is higher than what the benchmark is set at, we feel good about ourselves and if our production falls short we feel bad.
Think about it…comparisons determine our grades, our accolades, our raises, our positions, our influence, and our social status. It stands to reason that since everything is about measuring something against something else, why wouldn’t we do the same with our spiritual life?
So I compare myself with people all around me to gauge my spiritual condition. I compare how much I read the Bible with someone else, I compare how much I serve with another person, I compare how much I give with yet another. The problem is, if I compare myself to someone that appears to be less fruitful than me, it has the potential to produce pride and judgment in my heart. Conversely, if I compare myself to someone that appears to be more fruitful than me, it has the potential to produce insecurity and shame.
The kingdom comparison is a totally different paradigm. It’s a comparison that I make between myself and God. This kingdom comparison has the potential to produce repentance and humility in my life. This kingdom comparison causes me to relate to God like the tax collector found in Luke 18:9-14. It causes me to cry out, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.” It causes me to daily live a life of repentance and reliance on God’s grace and mercy.
In your life experience, how has making the wrong comparisons affected your relationship with God?
