Death by Comparison
Jul 23 2024 - Eric Buresh
I expect we’re probably all familiar with the dangers of comparison. How comparing our situation to other people’s situations in any of a variety of areas robs us of contentment and peace, leading to spiritual death. Yet, despite knowing the practice of comparison is an unhealthy dead-end, we still do it. So, let’s share in a brief reminder as we fight this sin.
I’ll pick on our good friend Peter, who always seems to set himself up to be the object of a lesson, this time out of John 21:18-22. In the context of this passage, Peter, after having been restored by Jesus after his threefold denial, learns the fate he will face at the end of his life. Peter immediately asks Jesus, well, what’s going to happen to John? Jesus responds to Peter's inquiry with a firm rebuke, redirecting Peter’s focus away from comparing his fate to John’s fate, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
Just like Peter, too often, we are tempted to compare our journey with that of others, measuring our worth and progress by comparison those around us. This comparison breeds discontent, envy, and distraction, drawing our hearts away from the singular focus that Jesus requires of His disciples. Each of us has a unique path ordained by our sovereign Lord. Some paths may be fraught with visible trials, some marked by public ministry, some may be marked by quiet faithfulness in the hidden corners of life. Regardless of the nature of our path, our eyes must remain fixed on following Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
God, in His infinite wisdom, has a specific plan and purpose for each of His children. Our task is not to question His will for others but to trust and obey His will for ourselves. The Lord's plans are inscrutable and perfect, and it is ours to submit to His leading with humble hearts. We must guard against the temptation to compare our spiritual progress, our blessings, or our sufferings with those of others. Instead, we are to seek the Lord's direction for our own lives, asking Him to guide our steps and to grant us the grace to walk the path He has laid out for us with faithfulness and perseverance.
Like all sin, at the root of comparison, we are struggling to trust, by faith, that God’s path is the very best possible path for us. In our pride, we look around at others, and imagine that we could do a better job of picking our own path than God has done. It comes down to a question of belief. Do we believe that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and perfectly good? To the degree the answer to those questions is yes, we will trust His path for us as the perfect path and comparisons will becomes irrelevant. To the degree the answer is no, we will continue comparing to others in our struggle to find our own path. At the heart of it, we are struggling with unbelief, and the remedy for unbelief is to ask God to give us greater faith.
As we receive that gift of greater faith, which God will give to those who ask, we will find contentment on the path God ordained uniquely and personally for us. Comparisons will diminish. In fact, we will learn to rejoice in the unique ways God works in the lives of our brothers and sisters. When we see others prospering or being used mightily, we will celebrate His work in them, knowing that He is glorified in the diverse tapestry of His people’s lives.