Comparison: The Slow Killer

Comparison Can Be the Thief of Joy

This truth hits especially hard when we find ourselves constantly measuring our lives against the lives of others. In doing so, we often lose sight of our own journey and begin to covet what we don’t have. Coveting then leads us into the dangerous territory of charging God foolishly.

We start asking questions like:

• “God, why did they get blessed before me?”

• “How is that fair? I’ve been faithful.”

• “They don’t even serve You—why do they have more than me?”

  
  

The reality is that we, as His creation, are not all-knowing. We don’t know the full story behind someone’s blessing. Who are we to question the Creator? God says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Romans 9:15). His ways are higher than ours.

If we truly trust His plan for our lives, then another person's blessing should strengthen our faith—not shake it. When a brother or sister in Christ is blessed, we should be saying:

“God, You really are a promise keeper. I will continue to trust You.”

Instead of

“Why them and not me?”

Let’s look at the facts:

God allowed you to witness that blessing.

Not to mock you. Not to discourage you.

But to deepen your trust in Him.

If He promised you something, do you really think He’d let you see someone else’s breakthrough just to flaunt it? Or is He reminding you that He is faithful—so you should keep the faith?

Another believer getting blessed should not cause you to question God's faithful plan for you.

Again:

Another believer getting blessed should not cause you to question God's faithful plan for you.

Should He put everyone’s blessing on hold until you get yours?

The Wicked that Prosper

You might say, “Well, what about when an unbeliever gets blessed? They don’t serve Him or acknowledge Him at all. What then?”

The enemy can give gifts too. Remember when he tried to tempt Jesus in Matthew 4? He is the god of this world, so he knows how to keep unbelievers’ faces buried in what they have so that they never come to the end of themselves and seek Christ.

David wrestled with this same question in Psalm 73, wondering why the wicked seemed to prosper. But by the end of the psalm, he realized their prosperity was temporary—and that being near God is the ultimate good.

Also remember: God is so sovereign, so gracious, that He even allows His rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). That’s who He is.

We don’t know why He chooses to bless them—but that’s not our “why” to figure out. Maybe they are on their path to knowing God. We do not know their story.

Biblical Comparisons

Did Elisha compare himself to Elijah? Or did he admire how God worked through him and ask for a double portion?

Did Jonathan compare himself to David? Or did he assist him, because he recognized David was anointed for kingship?

What Am I Saying?

Run your own race. Focusing too much on what the runner next to you is doing could cause you to forfeit your prize. He has uniquely designed your race.

And if you’re running faithfully toward the finish line, but if someone just so happens to cross it before you, let that encourage you—not discourage you.

Let it lead you to say:

“Soon, that will be me.”

Keep the faith in your Coach and in what He has promised you. Don’t allow comparison to kill your contentment in Him.

I’ll end with Romans 8:18:

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.”

So whatever He has promised you—whether it be spiritual or physical—enjoy the process. Enjoy the wait. Endure the suffering it may come with. In the end, you will have a story to tell, and it will point to Him—the Author—giving Him the glory.

-The Servant Hearted