Compare and Contrast

Today we continue our series “23andme” where we discuss the names in the genealogy of Jesus. This week we are going to be looking at King David. Aside from Jesus David is the most high profile name on this list. David is the name on the list that everyone knows. David is the one upon whom the genealogy of Jesus is named after, because the messiah was going to be a descendant of David. Today’s sermon is going to be about David, the name of today’s sermon is “The Standard” David is the standard in the list of Jesus genealogy. If you put together a list of people's names, there is always going to be one name that stands out in particular as “the standard”, the ones who set the bar.. Influential people are often placed in a list. You have some who are important, well-known and well-regarded. However very few make up the standard. We tend to place ourselves in similar lists, often-times to our own detriment. Sometimes this list is based on our Jobs are Careers, we put ourselves in a list with our professional colleagues. Sometimes we put ourselves on a list with other parents. Perhaps we put ourselves in a list based on our hobbies. In these lists there is usually a standard, and often-times the standard is someone else. There are multiple ways we can interact with the people who make up the “standard” in any list we find ourselves. Two of these actions are good, and one is really bad.

We can be grateful for them and be happy for their success and accomplishments.

We can be inspired by them, we can let their success drive us to be better.

We cannot, however, compare ourselves to them.

The subject of today’s story is going to be one about comparison, and the dangers that comparing ourselves with others invites.

Scripture context: Our passage of scripture today is 1st Samuel 18, however before we read our passage I want to set the stage and talk about the events which led us to this moment. In 1st Samuel 17 we see a story which is extremely familiar. It’s the story of David and Goliath. King Saul and his men are prepared to meet the Philistines in battle, when the best of the Philistine army suggests this battle be resolved by a 1v1 match up of each army's best soldiers. Saul and his soldiers were terrified by this idea, because none of them wanted to fight him. That is until a young shepherd boy shows up with his slingshot. We know the rest of the story.

After David’s victory over Goliath people are lavishing David for his victory. You can imagine that when David returned to Israel's army the soldiers were celebrating David and his accomplishments. Saul is in the back-ground like “well, he deserves his time to shine. People are living in the moment, and at the moment he’s a hero. I’m still the king. As the Israelite army returns to Jerusalem people meet them on the streets, and they lavish David for his victory. When Saul passes by people applaud their king, when David passes by the crowd and the applause seems to be louder. Saul in the background is thinking to himself “I don’t remember people clapping like that for me. Who is the king here? Is it me or David?

Then we have the moment that changes everything forever, it becomes clear that Saul is comparing himself with David. We begin to see sin take root in Saul's heart.

READ 1st Samuel 18:6-9

1 Samuel 18:6–9 ESV

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.

They are parading through the streets and the women begin singing and dancing. Saul no doubt has his ego inflated, as they believe he’s the subject of their celebration. However they begin to sing a song. “Saul has slain his thousands, but David has slain his tens of thousands.” This doesn’t go unnoticed. Saul thinks to himself “Oh they say David has slain 10 thousand, but they can only muster a measly thousand for me.” Why does he get to slay more, do they like him better, do people view him a better warrior than me? If they view him a better warrior, will they soon believe he’d be a better king? Will they replace me with him? The passage says Saul eyed David from that day on. Saul compared himself to him, and he was jealous of him.

This was the moment that sparked Saul's downfall. The moment everything began to unravel. A moment which started by Saul comparing himself to David.

This story illustrates a truth we cannot miss, or underestimate. We must kill comparison in our lives. I believe this story stands on its own as to why comparison is a bad thing. However, here are some reasons as to why it’s harmful practically speaking.

It cheapens the way God has gifted us. God has wired us each in specifically designed ways. When we compare ourselves to the gifts others have received we can easily become jealous and lack appreciation for how we are designed. In turn we are inhibited from being able to embrace what God has plans for our lives.

It creates undue stress. Self-worth is something people frequently struggle with. Most of us understand this on a surface level at the very least. However I think we would be SHOCKED at how much this affects people in this room. According to NIMH 20.1 Million people in the US struggle with depression. This is to say they had at least 1 depressive episode. Do you think our culture's obsession with comparing ourselves to each other has something to do with these numbers?

Comparison may not be a sin, however it will inevitably lead to sin. The story of David and Saul isn’t the only story which testifies to this truth. Way back in Genesis Cain compares the way his offering is received with Able. “I don’t see God appreciating my offering the way he does with Able.” This comparison leads to jealousy, and Cain murders Able to due his envy. Jacob and Esau is another example. Their story is more unique as it wasn’t so much them comparing themselves to each other, but it was the way they heard OTHERS compare the 2 brothers which drove the division between them. Remember Isaac and Rebecka compared the 2 brothers by the obvious favoritism each showed to the other brother. Comparison leads to sin, we must kill comparison. We must stop comparing ourselves to others, and we must stop comparing other people with other people as well.

So how do we do this? How do we kill comparison in our lives?

View the success of others as being beneficial to you. (Melvin Gordon story)

Don’t try to gain your identity through the approval of others. Instead gain your identity through the grace of Jesus.

We are going to end today's message by praying. Our prayer will have 3 main points. We are first going to pray that God helps us to kill comparison in our lives. Second we are going to pray that God helps us to embrace the gifts and the role he has designed for us. Both as individuals and as a church body as a whole. Third, we are going to pray that God reminds us whom we belong to, and that Jesus is the only standard we will ever need in our lives.