Comparison
"Comparison is the Thief of Joy" (This quotation from Theodore Roosevelt, argues that comparing your work, your life, or whatever else will only serve to make you unhappy. Why? Because when you compare yourself to others, you know all the dirty details of your situation or the problems with what you've created but only the seemingly positive surface information about them or their work. So don't hold yourself up to some outside vague standard of greatness. Judge your work by your principles and leave comparison out of the equation.)
Have you ever found yourself looking at someone else's life, and feeling like you don't measure up? The Scriptures have something to tell us about this.
Galatians 6:4-5 "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load." The focus of this verse is to not compare yourself to others. Our focus is being conformed to the image of our Lord and Friend, Jesus Christ.
The Passion Translation says it like this "Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what's right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others. Every believer is ultimately responsible for his or her own conscience."
Romans 12:6 says we all have gifts which differ, in keeping with the grace that God has given each of us. Psalm 33:15 says, 'He fashions their hearts individually, He considers all their works."
Our Lord and OurFriend takes each of our lives, our circumstances and personalities and by His transforming power, causes us to be effective wherever we are planted. 2 Corinthians 4:7 The Message "…our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. If you only look at us, you might miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives."
Let's be content and allow Him to shine through us.
Shalom Kath
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