No Comparison
John 3:22-4:3 (May 4)
Mankind has been in competition with each other since sin entered the world. Cain and Abel are an example of this, as are many others we find in scripture.
The desire for success, for riches, for fame and notoriety...all of this has pushed us to strive to win.
Lack of self-confidence and feelings of unworthiness have caused us to compare ourselves to others. Social media has elevated this to even higher levels.
That is why it is so refreshing to read today's NT scripture. Here we find John the Baptist continuing his work, baptizing the people who came to him.
At the same time, Jesus, who is now in the Judean countryside, is also doing some baptizing of his own. A certain Jew noticed this and started a discussion with John's disciples. They took this discussion to John, saying "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us."
Doesn't that sound like someone worried and complaining that someone else is getting their 'Business"? These disciples seem to have a competitive spirit. They appear to see the success of Jesus as a threat to John's success.
We often find that, even in ministry. While the spotlight, all that we do, should be pointing to Jesus, and should be done for His glory, so many times our "self" gets in the way and it becomes more about what WE are doing, what WE are achieving, and how WE are viewed. Jesus gets put on the back burner because we get too focused on ourselves.
But John demonstrated his right heart when he replied, "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, 'I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.' It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom's friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."
Wouldn't it be so great if society could think the way John thought? If we could all have a heart to esteem our brothers and sisters in Christ, rejoice in their blessings, and encourage them in their efforts to be all God has called them to be?
What if we stopped comparing and competing, and just celebrated ourselves and each other with joy?
What if everything we did, we did to make Jesus greater and greater, and ourselves less and less?
There is NO COMPARISON to a life filled with love, encouragement, acceptance, and humility.
Can you think of a time when you have felt a competitive spirit on been stuck in comparing yourself to someone else? We would love to hear your thoughts.