A lot of times, comparison can come as second nature to a person and with negative comparison breeds unhealthy competition. You can be a believer and compete with your fellow brethren. The truth is competition within the right context is not a bad thing, but it’s possible for you to strive in all the wrong ways, through all the wrong means to achieve something. We have Joy as believers and one thing that is quick to kill our joy is negative comparison and we’d be looking at that today.

In the Christian journey of faith, you can’t conclude quickly on anybody. You can’t judge a person’s destiny by their journey. Where grace is involved, so much can change in a matter of moments.

We can see this when with the stories of Joseph and David. Joseph began to reign at the age of 30. 12 years prior, Joseph was in a prison cell. Do you know what David was doing in that time? He had just killed Goliath. Both were going to end up with a similar destiny. They had similar destinations by the favor of God but the journey was different. And at age 30 they both ended up at relatively the same place. If you understood this you would stop comparing yourself with other putting undue pressure on yourself.

Because you didn’t start at the place you expected doesn’t mean you won’t end up in the place you expected. Furthermore, just because God is giving everyone around you visions of what they would do, tasks to complete, and assignments to complete, doesn’t mean that your call and God’s grace are any less genuine or potent. Instead, it might simply means that you need to wait, pray, and be patient. You’ve heard God clearly speak to you on that topic; don’t waste time comparing yourself to others.

One thing that toxic comparisons would do is harbor envy.

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭16‬

‭New King James Version‬‬

15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

All that jealousy produces is confusion. The Greek word for confusion there translates to restlessness or instability. Have you ever seen someone work with another person he is jealous of? He is easily provoked, hurried to do or say something with malicious intent. The Bible says such people live in confusion. Imagine being envious of your brethren, every time they win, every time they are blessed, you are provoked or you are quick to speak down on it or downplay their successes. You can’t grow like that.

Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭

New King James Version‬‬

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

God put these people around you to spur you up to good works, to supply to you. They are the people you are supposed to do life with. This can’t happen if you always see your brethren as your competition.

Undue comparison is a good way to be blind to what God is doing in you or building in you because you’re so busy worried about what everyone else is doing or what they have. It’ll foster anger and dissatisfaction in you. You’ll find it hard to be grateful. There are people that you should be receiving from, learning from, honoring but because of envy or this unhealthy comparison you are missing out.

Reflect on Joseph’s story again. He went through all that he did, sold to slavery by his brothers, accused of assault, thrown in prison for 12 years and then miraculously become Prime Minister. Remember, all this started because his brothers were jealous of him. And now the same brothers are reaping the benefits of their brother’s appointment. Imagine they were still envious, they would have died in that famine. You may not know God is blessing others around you for your sake. Think about it, Jesus came from the line of Judah. If Joseph, had been killed by his brothers what would have happened to the lineage of Jesus.

Kill this comparison. Rather, be happy for your friends, rejoice with them genuinely, allow them to challenge you, spur you unto good works.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭

New King James Version‬‬

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Be satisfied in the will of God, be content with Gods plan. Christ had it all and he could still put it all aside for the sake of God’s plan. When you walk boldly in the will of God for your life, you wouldn’t battle with an inferiority complex, you won’t base your success off of the vindication of others. You’ll be secure and grounded.

Prayer Point:

Lord, I learn not to compare myself to others and brood resentment. I am genuinely ready to learn from my brother and sisters in the faith rather than compare.