Are you taller or shorter? Older or younger? Struggling or thriving? How do you compare? Constant comparison has been rampant in every society since the very beginning and it can be dangerously unhelpful:
The fourth chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis describes how Cain compared himself to his brother Abel and jealously killed him as a consequence. Of course, most of the time the results are less catastrophic, yet comparing ourselves to others can easily result in fractured relationships and sinful behaviour:
Last Sunday morning we watched the apostle Paul warn the Christians in Galatia against becoming conceited.
“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Gal 5:26)
It might be difficult to grasp how people who had understood the need to not practice sinful behaviour and delight in the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives would need such a warning. Yet the fact is that we sinful people can even find ourselves being sinfully conceited by how well (or not) the fruit of the Holy Spirit is growing in our lives! The result is to look down on some people and envy others, completely undermining the result of that fruit in our hearts!
Once we comprehend that ‘conceit’ involves being self-focused, its easy to understand how even Gospel-hearted people can easily succumb. The good news is that the solution is likewise found in the Gospel: to think of Jesus and His people more, not for comparison, but for service.
If my attention and affection is on serving those around me for Jesus’ sake, then I’ll be doing what Jesus said and sacrificially loving others as He has loved me.
The result of that focus will be the benefit of all and glory of God.
Spencer Shaw