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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

DO YOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS?




We just finished yet another Phenomenal Series @ Church titled "I Quit"
Week One was "Quit making excuses"
Week Two: Quit "Complaining"
Week Three was "Quit living in Fear" and
this week we just ended with "Quit Comparing"

The top 4 things that most people compare to others is:

Possessions
Appearance
Performance
Circumstances


I will be honest this weeks message was by far the one I related with the most! I have experienced on far to many occasions comparing myself to others. I have compared myself to other women but the worst that I experienced this spirit of comparison was in ministry and the comparing of spiritual gifts. I often felt "Wow, she knows so much more than me" or "Her prayers are so powerful"

Do you know that God HATES when we "Compare Ourselves to Others??" Here are a few reasons why.....

2 Corinthians 10:12 says
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

Comparison is the DEATH of Contentment, It robs us of our meaning and steals our JOY! I especially like this one....It steals who God wants me to be and NOT who I wish I was!

Comparison makes us prideful.

Luke 18:11-12 in the Message says:
He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'

Comparing makes us Resentful

See here is 1 Samuel v.6-9 how King Saul of comparing himself to David and resenting how the people were praising David more than him!
As they returned home, after David had killed the Philistine, the women poured out of all the villages of Israel singing and dancing, welcoming King Saul with tambourines, festive songs, and lutes. In playful frolic the women sang,
Saul kills by the thousand,
David by the ten thousand!
This made Saul angry—very angry. He took it as a personal insult. He said, "They credit David with 'ten thousands' and me with only 'thousands.' Before you know it they'll be giving him the kingdom!" From that moment on, Saul kept his eye on David.


Another reason God hates us comparing is when we resent Gods goodness in others lives and tend to forget the blessings in our own lives!

Here is the Good News.....
We CAN Overcome this spirit of Comparison!! HOW?

KNOW what you have and the gifts God has given you like it says in Phillipians 4:11-13

I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

Know WHO YOU ARE!

Ephesians 2:10 says
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do


Dear Lord, May We all need know who we are and not who we think we need to be!!

What about you? Do you compare yourself to others??

18 comments:

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart

Great post my friend. I know when I was younger I used to compare myself to others but one thing I've learned as an adult is no matter who they are, they're human and will never be perfect. There is only One who's perfect.
Have a SUPER DUPER day my friend.
Kim

Debbie

Oh Loren this was really good. I bet this was just a great study. I find myself thinking WAY more than I should that I just CAN'T be who I want to be. I think because I compare myself to the "perfect" Christian who just doesn't exist, except in the form of Jesus himself. The Lord has really been working on my head reecently on this very subject, and I soo appreciate you writing this out. Have a good day! HUGS

Amy

What a great post Miss Loren! I've been struggling with this a lot lately. :(

Andrea

I am trying to just be me....but sometimes that is just so darn hard.

I have a blog award for you at Arise 2 Write. It is the second post down. You are always stylish, my friend.

I have a prayer request at All Gods Creatures.

hugs,
andrea

NanaNor's

Good snowy morning Loren, What a profound truth you've shared this day. I think as women we really do fall into the trap of comparison and to be honest I've never quite looked at it as so displeasing to the Father before-so thank you for sharing. It began snowing last night and hasn't stopped-oh my, guess I'll stay in today and quilt.
Hugs, Noreen

Betsy Banks Adams

Hi Loren, YES---I think we all compare ourselves to others --what they have, what we don't have, etc... WE are always comparing our lives to someone else's...

When I complain about someone else getting snow and us not getting any, hubby asks me if I want to move. I think about it but have to say NO -since I love our home here so much.

It's hard not to compare--but if we know who we are and are happy with ourselves, then there's no need to compare. God loves us --and we need to remember that ALWAYS.
Hugs,
Betsy

christy rose

What a great word Loren!!

I saw someone post on facebook the other day that "envy is counting someone else's blessings instead of our own." So true!! Comparing ourselves to anyone never brings about any good thing!!

Hope you have a great week!!

Connie

Beautiful post honey....thank you for sharing wise and thoughtful words. It is so good for us to ponder these things. Love, your momma. XO

George

Thanks for a wonderful and insightful post. I try hard not to compare myself with others, but I am not always successful. But I know God has created me as a unique individual and richly blessed me, so I can be content with who I am.

Jeanine

Such a great post! I'm in a study right now that also talked about almost the same thing this morning. We have to remember that if we want the, what we consider, "good stuff" that a person has that we also need to take whatever else they have, too. We can't pick and choose. We get the whole package. What might look good and desirable and make us envious of another, might also include some trials and hardships on their part that we don't necessarily know about and that we certainly wouldn't want.
Great messages for us to consider in our relationships with each other.
Peace and blessings.
Jeanine

Darcie

This really struck home with me today Loren! So much so, that I am going to come back and reread it this evening. Comparison...a slippery slope.

Sandy

Loren, Thank you for another great, thought provoking post, and Happy Belated Birthday to your Mom! Have a blessed week!

Beth E.

Yes, I have compared myself to others...I believe we all do at one time or another. Like Kim, I did mostly when I was younger. I'd like to think I've matured, but it still happens from time to time.

God has been faithful to show me - time and again - to focus on becoming the woman of God HE has called me to be, using the gifts HE has given me, instead of focusing on the gifts of others.

Great post!

Anonymous

Thank you for sharing this! I really need to take on this series :) I know we all struggle in one way or another with it, but you're right...We Can Overcome!! :)

Girly Muse

Aw, wrote a long ole comment and I think I just erased it all. :( Will try to remember and sorry if you get the same message. :)

Love this word!!! The Philippians passage is my favorite, especially this translation. It just says it perfectly. The thought that really hit home with me is that comparison is the death of contentment...wow. Such a profound and true statement.

Love you, my friend. You are being used by God and it's blessing to know you.

Angie

Wow, you have NO idea how timely this was for me to read today. We were just discussing this very thing yesterday at my church's "Mom's Group". You had some excellent points. Thanks so much for sharing.

Denise

Fantastic post sis.

jayayceeblog

Gosh, that was some food for thought. It really is hard not to compare ourselves to others but I love the message in your post and am grateful for the reminder. Know who you are and use it to serve ... I'm trying! =D

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