Stop Comparing
THE WORD: 2 Cor. 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
One of the evidences of foolishness is comparison. It is simply saying God does not know what He was doing during creation. This is what I have discovered long time ago. God is the only wise God (Romans 16:27, 1 Tim1:17 and Jude 1:25). He knows all things, He can do all thing and He is everything. That is while I always say God is too faithful to fail. He is dependable, He is reliable and He is available, He is accessible, He cannot lie, nothing is too hard for Him to do and He is not bias.
So it foolishness to be thinking someone is better than you in result because God created everyone equally—it is self-development and personal responsibility that set the standard for everyone to live. It is childish to be thinking someone is better than you in appearance—No one is better than you because you are wonderfully and fearfully make by God. It is lack of understanding of self that makes you to thinks that your last performance is the best of you. Forgetting that you can do ALL things through Jesus Christ that strengthens you and failure of event is not failure in person.
You are single dose not connote married people are better than you. You don’t have a child yet those not tag you barren. You don’t have job does not make you stupid or valueless. Who you are now is what God want you to be now. What you have now is what you need now. The bible recorded that those that compare themselves with themselves are not wise. It is foolishness to be comparing yourself with others because you don’t know what they are nursing. God knows your name and He will make good His promises in your life. Remember better is the end of a matter than the beginning thereof. The future result is the key not present situation.
As you step out today I want to cast your care on to God because he cares for you. The result of others does not connote they are better. Don’t measure your results with others and stop comparing someone’s middle with your own beginning. You will get there!
Think Comparison Think Foolishness.
…keep living, keep going and keep winning. Everything is possible if you are positive.
The Secret Man
Rotimi Adedokun
“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. 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.
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. . .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.
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.
“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. 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.
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. . .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.
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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