February 13 – I’m Not Better (Or Worse) Than Anyone
February 13, 2019 sdlieb Leave a comment 2 Corinthians, Faith Bites, Galatians, Gospel Lessons, Happy, Helpless, Job, John, New Testament, Old Testament, Open

2:44 – I’m Not Better (Or Worse) Than Anyone

#faithbites #faithjourney better

Being stuck at home, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on a variety of topics. Something that keeps coming up is the idea of a person being a better person than someone else. This “better” then turns into more worth and we are left with the better and worse people.

Last time I checked, people are not quantifiable in a numeric sense. Person A had one speeding ticket and goes to church three times a week and volunteers at the soup kitchen while Person B is a stay at home dad who is active politically. Person C is active in their church, has cheated on their spouse, volunteers with the boys and girls club, and helps the the poor with their taxes. Who is the better person? Who is the worse person?

I don’t know. I don’t think it’s possible to quantify this. If we can’t know, shouldn’t we stop with the labels?

Scripture

  • Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. – 2 Corinthians 10:12
  • But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. – Galatians 6:4
  • When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” – John 8:7

Reflection

God’s Word tonight tells us that we shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to one another. We should judge our skill and work against our own best. And finally not to judge others as we are not perfect.

Back in High School, I was on the swim team. I was tall, very heavy, and didn’t have a traditional swimmers body. I wasn’t great but enjoyed it and had fun. Often, I would try to compare my times towards others and my coach said to stop. She would ask if I did my best and if I got better than my previous best. That’s what matters.

When we say someone is better than us, we out them on a pedestal. When we say someone is less or worse than use, we lessen their value and worth. There is truth that quantitatively, I know people who are better at video games than I. I know others that I could beat. But when we start to compare who lives we fall short. This isn’t our job. Remember, God is the great multiplier whereas humans are the great divider.

Charge

Do you compare yourself to other people? Are you trying to Keep Up With The Joneses or are you trying to better yourself? Maybe you are trying to trash someone because you want to feel better about yourself. Do you want to be a multiplier or a divider? Start building others up and comparing yourself to only yourself.

Prayer

Gracious Lord. I come to you knowing that I am not better or worse than anyone. My value as a human is unquantifiable. We are all loved and cared for by you. Give us the strength to look at our own actions and judge them against ourselves and not others. Help us to be multipliers by building each other up rather than dividers tearing each other down. In your name, amen

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