It’s 2023 - everybody and their cousin is doing something. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people striving to be artists, content creators, and entrepreneurs. Whatever you’re working on, you’re unlikely to be the only one doing it. That used to be my reason not to do the things because the “space” seemed overly saturated. I didn’t feel there was any room for me. I didn’t know what I could offer that wasn’t already available elsewhere. But I realized I do have something that no one else has - myself. Someone else may be doing the same thing - but they are not you or me.
This isn’t to say that I’m more special or better than anyone else in any way. Recognizing that they are not you or me points to our uniqueness. If we were meant to be carbon copies of each other, God would’ve made us that way. God took the time to make us different. There’s a purpose in being different. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ”. It’s the perfect design of God for there to be diversity in the body.
Imagine a fish comparing itself and it’s assignment to a bird. One is called to the sea - the other is called to the sky. Both have a purpose. Both can be effective in their sphere of influence. A fish trying to fly or a bird trying to swim is useless. I’m most useful when I do what I was designed to do. I’m useless when I try to be anything other than who God made me to be.
It’s human nature to compare. Social media has trained us to crave instant gratification. We’ve become addicted to the dopamine rush we get from the double taps and shares. Dopamine is known as the “feel-good” chemical in the brain that is responsible for allowing you to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. When we engage with social media the shares, likes, and comments trigger the brain to release dopamine and give a high feeling, like what people feel when they gamble or use drugs. Social media can literally be a drug if we let it.
As believers, we know it is problematic to feed off what cannot sustain us. If you’re feasting on the accolades of people, remember it only took the people a few days to switch up on Jesus - from shouting Hosanna to cheering for His crucifixion. People will crown you today and cancel you tomorrow. Your feed cannot feed you.
We compare because we lack a complete awareness of our identity. When we’re unsure of who we are it’s easier to want something that was never meant for us. Our identity is not found through the validation of the people. Our identity is found in Christ.
Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them
Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations
John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you
Other times comparison is rooted in jealousy. We see the glitz and glam, the clout and the accolades and suddenly we crave what they have. Jamaicans call this red eye 😂. Remember we only see what they show us, only a glimpse of the truth. Everything that glitters is not gold. What is publicly shown is only a glimpse of the truth. Behind closed doors is a private process sometimes filled with pain, heartbreak, disappointment, rejection, losses, hesitation, time, energy, and a lot of hard work. We see the blessing and want it without knowing how much it took to get there. If you find yourself wanting what someone else has, ask yourself if are you willing to go through what they had to go through to get there.
Take Job’s story for example. To clarify in case you don’t know, I’m talking about Job the man, not the occupation lol. Job was an extremely wealthy man with seemingly everything a man could want. He had 10 kids, many sheep, and servants. But let’s skip to the end of his story. Job ended up being twice as rich and his life was extended another 140 years. If we only encounter Job at the end of his story and fail to consider the totality of his experiences, it may appear that he lived a lavish life and we could miss the truth about the immense suffering he endured.
The Bible tells us that before Job attained double riches, he suffered the loss of everything he had - all ten of his children, all his servants, and his sheep and livestock. It's easy to be enamored by what we see and overlook the cost of success. Whether it's your favorite influencer or a public figure, it's important to remember that they, too, face challenges and struggles behind the scenes. As believers on a journey with Jesus, we know that it's not always easy, even if social media posts only show the victories. it's important to remember that there are battles being fought as well.
The grass is not greener on the other side - it's greener where it's watered. Instead of constantly looking over the fence, let's direct our attention to nurturing our own endeavors so they can thrive. Let's embrace the path we're on, keep our eyes focused forward, and avoid slowing ourselves down. Remember that the person we might be comparing ourselves to may not even have the same assignment as us. And even if they do, it doesn't matter because God called both of us.
We are not opponents in a competition for souls; rather, we are teammates united in our efforts to build the kingdom of God. Instead of striving for followers, let's focus on collaboration and support. In this space, we wholeheartedly celebrate the achievements of those around us, recognizing that each person plays a vital role in the world. The world needs every single one of us, and together, we can make a meaningful impact.
Pray with me -
Loving Father, we thank you for the intentional design through which You have shaped us as unique individuals. We are grateful for the beautiful diversity You have given us. We acknowledge the destructive power of comparison and competition within the body of Christ. Lord, we ask for a renewed understanding that each one of us has a unique assignment in Your kingdom. Help us to embrace our individual roles and gifts with joy and gratitude. May we find our validation solely in Christ, recognizing that our true worth is not measured by worldly standards or the opinions of others. Open our eyes to the beauty and purpose in our differences. Help us to resist the temptation to compare ourselves to others, understanding that our identity and calling come from You alone. Unite us as teammates working together harmoniously for the advancement of Your kingdom. Break the chains of competition and comparison that bind us, replacing them with love, encouragement, and support for one another. Unify us as teammates working together to build Your kingdom.
In Jesus' name, amen.
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