Being totally honest over here- I’m pretty jealous of all of the spring breakers hanging out on the beach right about now. I think we’re all guilty of this. We see someone else’s life and we instantly start comparing. But when we compare our lives to someone else’s, it can never lead to anything good. If we compare our life to someone else’s, and our life seems pretty good, it can lead us to become prideful. If we compare our life to someone else’s and their life seems pretty good, it can lead us to bitterness, envy, and discontentment. None of this is pleasing to God. We should flee far from any thoughts of comparison.
But maybe there’s a type of comparison we shouldn’t flee from, the kind that causes us to see the greatness of our God, the kind that will give us an eternal perspective? Think through this with me, friends.
When we compare our earthly trials (no matter how big or small they might be) to God, we will see that He is bigger. When we compare them to what He has in store for those who love Him, we will see that whatever pain we’re feeling is absolutely nothing compared to the joy that’s coming. (1 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Revelation 21, Revelation 22:1-5).
When we compare our sin to God, we see how holy He is, but also how merciful, graceful, and loving that He is to choose to save sinners like us. (Isaiah 6:3, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:4-10).
When we compare our “good works” to God, we see that nothing we can do is really that good. We see that we really do need a Savior. We see that the only way to bear fruit is by abiding in Jesus. (Romans 3:10, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23-26, John 15:5).
When we compare even our best days to what Jesus has in store for us, we can rejoice, because we know that even as good as things might seem, it is absolutely NOTHING compared to how good it will be to be in the presence of Jesus for eternity! (Revelation 21, Revelation 22:1-5).
When we compare our temptations to the cross, we are reminded that we were bought with a price and how great the price was that Jesus paid for our sin on the cross. We are reminded that by the power of the Spirit, we can overcome temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13).
When we compare what we think we need to Jesus, we see that He is enough. (Philippians 4:19).
Friends, when we compare anything of this world to Jesus, we will see that He is far more beautiful and far greater than the best and the worst. Let comparing your struggles and your successes to Jesus lead you to praise for He is far greater. Let comparing your joys and your failures to what Jesus has in store lead us to live with an eternal perspective. And when we compare ourselves to Jesus, let the cry of our hearts be the same as that of John the Baptist’s, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” John 3:30 (ESV).
“You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with You! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.” Psalm 40:5 (ESV)
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