The Curse of Comparison

INTRODUCTION

Illegitimate comparison is curse

It is rooted in pride

It if fueled by insecurity

It distracts us from our ultimate purpose...

and to the degree that it controls for influences us is the degree that it will shape our destiny and eternal reward.

James 3:13–17 AMP

13 Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. 15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). 16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

Many curses entered into the race of the first Adam on the occasion of man's seduction by Satan. One of the worst is comparison. Comparison is a lie from its very inception; every human being, while similar in many ways, is also utterly unique. In all of creation, not two humans are exactly alike. Therefore, when you try to compare yourself to another, it is always "apples and oranges."

Envy and jealousy are illegitimate children or comparison. Rather than going to God to find our identity and purpose, we compare ourselves to others.

Purpose is found in the mind of the creator.

Failure and ruin await the person who chooses worldly standards or envious comparison with others to find his or her purpose. 

Dr. Miles Monroe said: "If you want to know the purpose of a thing, don't ask the thing; seek the creator of the thing."  Purpose is found in the mind of the creator. 

Don’t conform to someone else’s dream, be transformed by God’s dream that is exclusively for you.

Galatians 6:4–5 NLT

4 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. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Galatians 6:4–5 The Message

4 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. 5 Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

If we are to pursue our individual dream, does this mean we don’t need the need of Christ?

Galatians 6:6 The Message

6 Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.

The bible is full of illustrations of envy and comparison

Thanks of Rachael and Lea, then watch as this is handed down to Jacob and Esau. Then to Jacob’s children when they sell Joseph into slavery. Much of what Joseph had to go through was to deliver Him from generational pride and comparison.

In Matthew chapter 20 Jesus is teaching the crowds; he tells the parable of the vineyard workers and the principle of rewards. He then once again predicts His death. The teaching affects the crowds but is lost on His disciples. Then, in vs. 20 The mother of James and John comes to Jesus with this humdinger of an idea:

Matthew 20:20–28 NLT

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” 23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” 24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Then there’s John, who calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved”...

Peter will never abandon Jesus

Matthew 26:33–35 NLT

33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Matthew 26:69–75 NLT

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. 73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” 74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

Imagine Peter’s heart at that moment, his whole life had seemingly been a lie.

But God, Pentecost lead preacher, how can it be? God is more concerned with who you are becoming. If He can reproduce Christ in you, He can do more with you in 5 minutes than you can do in a lifetime.

Pastors compare; churches compare; this curse of original sin runs deep!

God adds to the church them as should be saved...

If we compare then we compete.

Fear of the false feeling of failure, when comparing ourselves to others, leads us to compete or retreat.

COMPETE

When we compare and compete, we ALWAYS FAIL!

How can you say that?

You will never be as good at being someone else as they are at being themselves.

God will insure that you fail when you operate in your own strength.

This competition reveals the ugly selfishness of our own hearts.

Fear of the false feeling of failure, when comparing ourselves to others, leads us to compete or retreat.

RETREAT

John 21 NLT

1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. 18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” 20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” 22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” 24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate. 25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

Imagine with me a church...

When you get away from comparison, you’re free to celebrate the success and achievements of others. People feel celebrated and not resented.