Spot the Difference!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.
2 Corinthians 10:12 (AMP)
Growing up, I remember always trying to search for the SPOT THE DIFFERENCE column on the pages of magazines and some newspapers where the identical pictures of two sketches or pieces of art are given and readers would be asked to spot the difference by circling the areas and returning by post the answers. I must have spotted many differences but can’t really remember ever sending any by post (since there was no email at that time). May be I would have tried if it were to be by email…
What I intend sharing briefly with you is the foolish “spot the difference” adventures that we at times engage in as individuals which does no good to us than to leave us worse than it met us, leading to jealousy, envy, strife and if not well tamed makes us blame God for everything because it blind-folds us from seeing anything good that God has done in our lives.
When was the last time you wished you were born into a more influential family? Well, we all were not given the opportunity to choose that. If God did, I wonder who will come from impoverished homes!
Whatever form of comparison you may be involved in will be mere folly because there should be no reason why you should want to compare yourself with others. An understanding of you being a creature made in the image and the likeness of God- the creator is enough to make you stand tall in life.
But as crippling and subtle this venture is, we allow it to lord it over our lives and secretly envy others and questioning God and asking the most horrible question of WHY ME?
But as crippling and subtle this venture is, we allow it to lord it over our lives and secretly envy others and questioning God and asking the most horrible question of WHY ME?
Reasons for Comparison
Inferiority Complex
Inferiority Complex
It is an overdeveloped sense of being inferior to other people. In extreme cases it can manifest itself in either withdrawn or aggressive social behavior. Many compare themselves with others just because they feel others are more human than themselves. Come to think of it, no human has two heads. Only monsters do. No man can sleep in two rooms at a time, no matter the mansion.
There is no less human, we are all humans.
So friend, never feel inferior to anyone. See what went into your creation and how important you are to God; King David says
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out,
You know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Psalms 139:13 -15 (TM)
Lack of Defined Purpose for Living
Lack of Defined Purpose for Living
When purpose is undefined abuse is inevitable. This is another reason why many want to be like another person. It is because they lack the purpose for living or have not well defined their very reason for existence. Those who are so engrossed in fulfilling their God-given purpose have no time for comparison.
If you live like a photocopy, who will live your original?
To save yourself from this comparison syndrome, get busy fulfilling your God purpose and you won’t even notice others who are busy living their dreams. Like the saying that the idle mind is the devil workshop, many are busy analyzing others’ wealth that they are not thinking of their own very life. Have a defined goal for living and get busy pursuing it!
Failure to count your blessings
Yeah, if you fail to count your blessings, the devil will give you something else to count. There is the song I always loved to sing in primary school with all the excitement and vigor because I know we only sing the song when we are about to take lunch. The song in Songs Of Praise (SOP) says,
Some have food, but cannot eat,
Some can eat, but have no food,
We have food and we can eat,
Glory be to thee Oh Lord. (And afterwards, we’ll then say Aunty come and eat….lol)
Failure to count your blessings
Yeah, if you fail to count your blessings, the devil will give you something else to count. There is the song I always loved to sing in primary school with all the excitement and vigor because I know we only sing the song when we are about to take lunch. The song in Songs Of Praise (SOP) says,
Some have food, but cannot eat,
Some can eat, but have no food,
We have food and we can eat,
Glory be to thee Oh Lord. (And afterwards, we’ll then say Aunty come and eat….lol)
This is a soothing reminder for me. We still need to appreciate God no matter what we are faced with because it could have been worse.
If you have lost ANYTHING, God is the reason why you’ve not lost EVERYTHING!
That is why blaming God for our present state is the most unwise thing to do. If you think you have no shoes, how about those who don’t have legs?
Wait a minute, if God forsakes you, who will you run to? But thanks be to God that He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Everything you are going through are actually fitting to plan and it’s all for your own good. If God never sleeps nor slumber, then He must be busy working things out for my good. Don’t you thing so?
When next you see someone who seems to already have what you desire, rejoice with them and quickly assure yourself that, Mine is on the way.
Wait a minute, if God forsakes you, who will you run to? But thanks be to God that He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Everything you are going through are actually fitting to plan and it’s all for your own good. If God never sleeps nor slumber, then He must be busy working things out for my good. Don’t you thing so?
When next you see someone who seems to already have what you desire, rejoice with them and quickly assure yourself that, Mine is on the way.
Count your blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!
Shall we pray
Lord, open our eyes to spot the difference between where are coming from and where we are now and the assurance of where you are taking us to, rather than engage in the folly of comparison with others. Amen
Lord, open our eyes to spot the difference between where are coming from and where we are now and the assurance of where you are taking us to, rather than engage in the folly of comparison with others. Amen
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