The Peril of Comparing
Jerry Bridges
Jerry Bridges
"When they . . . compare themselves with one another,
they are without understanding." -2 Corinthians 10:12
they are without understanding." -2 Corinthians 10:12
We constantly see believers around us who seem more blessed by God than we are. Some are more gifted in spiritual abilities; others always succeed with little effort; others seem to have few problems or concerns. Probably none of us is exempt from the temptation to envy someone else's blessings and secretly grumble at God, or even charge him with rank injustice, for giving another person more in some way than he has given us.
Yet God in his sovereignty has the right to bless each of us as he chooses. Consider these words from the apostle Paul: "But who are you, o man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?" (Romans 9:20-21).
Regardless of how we understand the particular application of Paul's teaching, we cannot escape its basic principle: God is sovereign. And he's sovereign in every area of life. Our Creator has the right to endow each of us at birth with different physical and mental abilities, different temperament characteristics, and different natural talents. He also has the right to give each of us different spiritual gifts. And it's obvious God exercises those rights. We're not created equal nor given equal opportunities throughout life. Each of us has his or her own unique set of circumstances, some appearing much more favorable than others. Since God is under no obligation to any of us, he's free to bless some more than others as he chooses. He has the right to do what he wants with his blessings.
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Yet God in his sovereignty has the right to bless each of us as he chooses. Consider these words from the apostle Paul: "But who are you, o man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?" (Romans 9:20-21).
Regardless of how we understand the particular application of Paul's teaching, we cannot escape its basic principle: God is sovereign. And he's sovereign in every area of life. Our Creator has the right to endow each of us at birth with different physical and mental abilities, different temperament characteristics, and different natural talents. He also has the right to give each of us different spiritual gifts. And it's obvious God exercises those rights. We're not created equal nor given equal opportunities throughout life. Each of us has his or her own unique set of circumstances, some appearing much more favorable than others. Since God is under no obligation to any of us, he's free to bless some more than others as he chooses. He has the right to do what he wants with his blessings.
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O Great and awesome LORD, I confess that I have often sought greatness through the self-exalting paths of this fallen world. Many times, I have compared myself to others, thinking that would make me the greater. Lord, I repent. I want to walk before You day by day as a humble, needy, dependent child of the great King of kings, in Jesus’ Name, Amen & Amen.
