Advertisements dare us to compare their prices to others’ prices. We are encouraged to compare our houses and even our lives to others through the “keeping up with the Jones” comic strip. (A newspaper cartoon from 1913-1940.) It was designed to motivate us to succeed and pass the Jones. Well, I do not know how we got so far off that mark, but we have. Instead of viewing it as “I need to learn how they did it”, we envy whatever it is we are comparing ourselves to. If we are not careful, we have a little green-eyed monster that becomes bigger with each comparison.
Yes, I am speaking from experience. I was not popular in school, never understood why. I was told I was funny, was a pretty good friend, never talked trash behind someone’s back, also never went out of my way to hurt someone. I became a loner because of the hurt I experienced at the hands of others. I knew that some of the meanness I experienced was to make someone else look better to others. It happens all the time. Does not make one stop wishing to be included and then that leads to comparison.
2 Corinthians 10:12 “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding.” By whose standards are we measuring ourselves when we compare ourselves? We are limiting ourselves to human standards when we compare ourselves to each other. God’s standards are so much higher. Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Pride comes from comparison, when you judge others are of less value than yourself. Pride is the opposite of humility.
I am guilty of comparing myself to others, especially when my insecurities flair up. I am insecure in my writing and in my Biblical knowledge. By confessing these two things, I hope you will understand why I am writing this blog. I am about to attend (hurricane permitting) a conference in North Carolina. It is the “She Speaks Studio”, which is for church leaders, speakers and writers. It is designed to help you to develop whatever your calling is. Mine is this blog. Writing does not come naturally to me, I once thought I could write. But two of my friends made fun of my writing and it crushed me. So now when I write, I hear what they said behind my back. My writing came by a need to write my understanding of Psalms and also to create my own Psalms. It was a connection to God that made me write. I write to connect with God. I blog in hopes that you, my readers, will find your way to connect with God.
Second confession, I am really just learning. I’m learning how and what to blog. What is too much information (oversharing) and what is not enough information (I rarely find myself here). This journey I am on, is my calling. I am not out to be famous, I make no money from my blog. Not interested in boosting my blog by advertising. My only two interests are connecting with God and connecting others with God. The encouragement I receive helps me avoid comparison. Now to erase that negative mental tape from High School and program a new positive one. One that comes from the Creative Creator. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” My truth no longer relies on comparing myself, I need to be open to learning from others.
