“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.” (Galatians 6:4-5 NIV)
Carry Your Own Load
LeBron or Jordan? Brady or Montana? Maybe it is just a result of the 24 hour news cycle, but it seems that we are constantly comparing athletes to one another. Who is the best of all time? Which statistics should we use to compare them? How do we compare eras?
In case you haven’t noticed, there is no definitive answer on these issues. You basically choose what measurements of success that you value and base your “best ever” argument off of that. One good thing about these debates is that it gives us something to discuss in the off-season and allows us to look forward to finding more evidence to support our arguments. While I do think many TV shows take “debating” way too far, I do think these comparisons make sports more fun.
Thankfully, though, God does not compare believers to one another. God loves us each equally and individually. A close friend of yours living a sinful life does not make God love you more. And thankfully, having somebody out there dedicating everything to ministry and winning thousands of souls for the Lord does not make Him love you any less.
Do not let other people become your measuring stick. Your relationship with God, and how He responds and relates to you, is strictly between you and God. And since He is always the same, you are the only variable in the equation. You can be as close to God as you want to be. But when you get caught up comparing yourself to other Christians, you are giving a foothold to the sin that is crouching at your door.
Keep your focus on God, and only compare yourself to the example set by Christ. That is the only measuring stick that is appropriate when evaluating our relationship with the Lord.
The correct answers from above are Jordan and Brady, by the way.
– Jamie Boggs
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