Day 27 – Unwise Comparisons ~ Julie Earl
Galatians 6:1-5
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.
Julie’s Nugget
With all of us posting our best pictures and our best moments on Facebook, it’s hard not to compare ourselves with each other and assume everyone else is more beautiful, happier and doing more in the kingdom.
I’ve been praying about this issue because when Dane and I post stories of us saying yes to God’s promptings, we aren’t trying to brag or make people feel bad. Our goal is to inspire people that if we can do it, anyone can do it through the power of the Holy Spirit. But I think I need to work harder to share more of our struggles and inadequacies with people. Being a natural-born optimist, it’s hard for me to remember to do that.
But no matter what people post on Facebook, God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves with each other. Second Corinthians 10:12 says, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” It isn’t wise because when we are focused on comparing ourselves with others, we turn our focus off Jesus and the tasks He has for us each day. We easily become discouraged because we feel we aren’t as impressive or as important as someone else who has different looks, talents, callings or tasks.
Verse 5 in Galatians 6 (above) says that “each one should carry their own load.” This is a crucial point. God gives each of us specific tasks that He asks us to accomplish. He gives us our own load. We don’t have the time or the grace to do what someone else is called to do and try to carry their load. I used to feel bad that I wasn’t helping with more ministries or charities than I was, but I realized that God has given me specific tasks and I would be disobedient to try to do tasks given to others. There is only so much time in everyone’s day, so we have to stay tuned in to what God has for us.
To Pray About
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal in what ways you are comparing your looks, your wealth, your talents and your calling with other people. Then choose, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to fix your eyes on Jesus alone. Choose to delight in how God made you and the tasks He has given you to accomplish. Then make the choice to say yes to everything He asks. He will give you all you need (the courage, strength, wisdom, ability) for everything He asks you to do!
You are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Julie Earl
(All scripture taken from the New International Version. Bold lettering mine.)