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7 Reasons Not To Compare Yourself To Others
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7 Reasons Not To Compare Yourself To Others

WRITTEN BY HAROLD HERRING. .

Share 156

 “Stop It .”

When I heard those two words I was standing in a Half Price Book Store glancing through a book. . .I was about
purchase.  I looked around to see if one of the other customers had spoken those words to me. . .they had not. .
.there was no one near me.

I knew the spirit of the Lord was clearly speaking to me so I sat down at a table as I paused to hear His voice. . .He
said to me:

"Tell my children to stop comparing themselves to others. My Word and their obedience to it ...is the
only measure of comparison my children should be concerned about ."

I meditated on those words.  “ Tell my children to stop comparing themselves to others.”

I realized that many people get themselves into financial trouble because they’re always comparing themselves to
others and the things they have or don’t have.

I saw a recent survey that revealed that the average age children get a cell phone is eight years old
old.  Can
you believe that?
:
 Have your children or grandchildren ever asked you for a cell phone like “so and so” has?  Every new cell phone
release. . .with the latest gadgets and widgets prompts the requests for a new phone.

By the way, it’s not just the children that want the latest and greatest.  It’s Moms and Dads as well.  Why this got to
have IT attitude?  It’s simple, comparing what we have with what others have.

I could talk about this economic foolishness because it manifests on so many levels with all kinds of purchases. . .but
I need to move on.

As I was reflecting on the Lord’s words to me. . .I felt stirred to write “seven reasons not to compare ourselves to
others.”

1.         Inspect yourself.

Galatians 6:4-5 in God’s WORD Translation says:

“Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without
comparing yourself to others. Assume your own responsibility.”

 We are accountable for our actions. . .what we do or don’t do

do. 

How we act and react.  What we say and don’t say.  We can’t blame anybody else for our actions.  We’re the master
of our own ship. . .the creator of our own destiny
destiny. . .and we’re to continually inspect what we’re doing and
how it lines up with His word.

When we know that we’ve done the best job possible. . .then is no need to compare ourselves to anybody else.

Galatians 6:4 in the New Living Translation says:

“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need
to compare yourself to anyone else.”

2.         Be proud but not prideful.

Let me simply suggest that being prideful is not a smart thing.  Any doubts?  Read

Deuteronomy 8:2 in the New Century Version which says:

“Remember how the Lord your God has led you in the desert for these forty years, taking away your pride and
testing you, because he wanted to know what was in your heart. He wanted to know if you would obey his
commands.”

Child of God, it ’s much better that we deal with our pride. . .instead of God dealing with it .

By the way, you can be proud of what you’ve accomplished. . .as long as you recall and remember where your
personal victories come from. . .or more specifically, who they come from.

3.         Don’t compare yourself to others.

:
 According to the scripture. . .it’s stupid to compare ourselves to anyone else.

2 Corinthians 10:12 in The Living Bible says:

“Oh, don't worry, I wouldn't dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how good they are!
Their trouble is that they are only comparing themselves with each other and measuring themselves against their
own little ideas. What stupidity!”

I was raised in a Christian home. . .with the best parents ever. . .for that, I’m eternally grateful.

During high school and college. . .I had a tendency to compare my behavior to that of my friends.  I reasoned that I
was okay spiritually because at least I wasn’t doing what they were doing.

I came to realize that my standard for measurement shouldn’t be the attitudes and actions of others. . .but rather the
Word of God.

4.         You’re responsible for your actions and not those of anybody else.

I’ve heard it said over the years. . .that you can’t control what other people do but you can control how you
respond and react to what they do
do.

Furthermore, you and you alone are accountable for your actions.

Amos 6:3 in the New Living Translation says:

“You push away every thought of coming disaster, but your actions only bring the day of judgment closer.”

Sadly, many believers will face a spiritual and eternal disaster because they’ve blamed others for what they did or
didn’t do.

I think Revelation 3:2 in the New Living Translation offers us some pretty good advice.

“Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet
the requirements of my God.”

Our actions reveal the depth of our faith and the strength of our character.

5.         Comparing yourself to others limits your potential.

When you compare your performance and actions to that of another. . .you are allowing them to set your standard
of achievement.  If your only goal is to do just a little better than someone else. . .then you will never maximize your
fullest potential.

Mark 9:23 in God’s WORD Translation say:

“Jesus said to him, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes.”

This scripture doesn’t say your success is dependent upon you doing what someone else does.
:
 No, this scripture says that “everything is possible” for the person who believes.  

This passage is talking about you believing in somebody else. . .it’s referring to your belief in our great God Jehovah
and know that all things are possible through Him.

Your potential isn’t limited by your actions but rather your beliefs.

6.         Recognize and remember where your gifts and abilities originate from.

Romans 12:6 in the Message Bible says:

“Let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with
each other, or trying to be something we aren't.”

According to James 1:17 every good and perfect gift comes from our Father in Heaven.

James 1:17 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that
gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in
an eclipse].”

7.         You have guaranteed access to the greatest resource ever.

As I was searching the scriptures and writing this teaching I came across a really powerful scripture.  It’s 1
Corinthians 4:7-8 in the Message Bible which says:

“For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would
discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from
God? So what's the point of all this comparing and competing?  You already have all you need. You already have
more access to God than you can handle. . .”

I don’t think a scripture could be any clearer.  I strongly encourage you to write this scripture out on an index card,
put it in your smart phone or other electronic gizmo so you can review it every day.  It’s a powerful word.

Just so. . .we’re clear. . .stop comparing yourself to other people.

One more thing. . .this just occurred to me.  If you have brothers and/or sisters. . .you may have said growing up
“Momma Likes You Best.”  Now that may be. . .but I can give you an absolute fact. . .GOD LIKES YOU BEST.
:
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Lookinup − ⚑
4 years ago edited

I believe that this is the most thorough and condensed Biblical article I've ever read on this topic. Well done.
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