Yesterday I wrote about comparing ourselves and coveting what others have. Today I’d like to continue exploring the world of the Kardashians and look at other reasons why we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others.
To start it’s really very simple. For women who look at the standards that the world holds up on the TV and Fashion Magazines and tries to meet them; We will fail miserably or we might abuse our bodies trying to meet these standards for a while but they are unrealistic. And then we’ll feel badly because we aren’t thin enough, or pretty enough, or tall enough, and our skin isn’t clear enough. Our husbands will watch television and see women in their 20’s who have perfect bodies and women in their 40’s who look like they’re in their 20’s due to surgery and airbrushing and I know I can’t compete with that! I’ve noticed there will always be something that ISN’T ENOUGH.
For the men, your muscles will never be big enough; you won’t be strong enough; your masculinity will never be quite manly enough.
These are LIES straight from the pits of HELL to keep us from focusing on who we really are in Christ Jesus! The Bible says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV.
When we compare ourselves to others and become depressed because God made us the way He chose to make us it’s a slap in HIS face. Think about that. Do you really want to be slapping your Maker in the face? Let’s stop slapping our Creator and start focusing on what He created us to do.
We should also not conform ourselves to others expectations. People are just that, people, and people, even Christians aren’t perfect. Is there someone in your life who is always telling you about your inadequacy? I’m going to tell you a little secret about criticism. The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is told in love and is meant to build you up. It is only told face to face and NEVER behind your back.
Romans 14:10-13 AMP “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. And so each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.”
There is a promise in Isaiah 26:3 NKJV “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”So, if you are someone who has been listening to other people as they try to conform you to their expectations, take heart, this promise is for you. Keep your mind on Him and He will keep you in perfect peace. And if you’re one of the people who has a critical spirit, and we have to be realistic, we all do sometimes, well, when we keep our mind on God and not on someone else THEN He’ll keep us in perfect peace too.
So now let’s turn our focus on what God has for us. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Think about that, He created us and He prepared the works for us to do in advance. They’re just waiting for us to do them. Let’s not become distracted by comparing ourselves to each other because if we don’t do the good works He has prepared for us to do either they don’t get done or He’ll find someone else to do them instead.
We can sugar coat it all we want but these scriptures have clearly told us not to do it, don’t compare ourselves in any way to anyone else. To do so is sin. Are you guilty of comparing yourself to others? Have you coveted others belongings? Have you looked at others gifting and wished they were your own? Have you looked at others ministries and thought, why doesn’t God use me like that? Do you look at others families and think they have less problems than your own? Or are you feeling puffed up with pride because your child is on the honor roll and your neighbor’s child is on drugs?
If you’re struggling with this don’t say I shouldn’t be struggling with this, confess it as sin and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome this, because face it, we can’t produce fruit on our own. There’s nothing righteous in us, without the Holy Spirit we’re hopeless but we have HIM living in us and He has promised to never leave or forsake us. He has also promised “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 So, let’s walk in the good works that God has prepared for us, living the abundant life that Jesus died to give us, and stop comparing ourselves to others.
To start it’s really very simple. For women who look at the standards that the world holds up on the TV and Fashion Magazines and tries to meet them; We will fail miserably or we might abuse our bodies trying to meet these standards for a while but they are unrealistic. And then we’ll feel badly because we aren’t thin enough, or pretty enough, or tall enough, and our skin isn’t clear enough. Our husbands will watch television and see women in their 20’s who have perfect bodies and women in their 40’s who look like they’re in their 20’s due to surgery and airbrushing and I know I can’t compete with that! I’ve noticed there will always be something that ISN’T ENOUGH.
For the men, your muscles will never be big enough; you won’t be strong enough; your masculinity will never be quite manly enough.
These are LIES straight from the pits of HELL to keep us from focusing on who we really are in Christ Jesus! The Bible says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV.
When we compare ourselves to others and become depressed because God made us the way He chose to make us it’s a slap in HIS face. Think about that. Do you really want to be slapping your Maker in the face? Let’s stop slapping our Creator and start focusing on what He created us to do.
We should also not conform ourselves to others expectations. People are just that, people, and people, even Christians aren’t perfect. Is there someone in your life who is always telling you about your inadequacy? I’m going to tell you a little secret about criticism. The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is told in love and is meant to build you up. It is only told face to face and NEVER behind your back.
Romans 14:10-13 AMP “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. And so each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.”
There is a promise in Isaiah 26:3 NKJV “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”So, if you are someone who has been listening to other people as they try to conform you to their expectations, take heart, this promise is for you. Keep your mind on Him and He will keep you in perfect peace. And if you’re one of the people who has a critical spirit, and we have to be realistic, we all do sometimes, well, when we keep our mind on God and not on someone else THEN He’ll keep us in perfect peace too.
So now let’s turn our focus on what God has for us. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Think about that, He created us and He prepared the works for us to do in advance. They’re just waiting for us to do them. Let’s not become distracted by comparing ourselves to each other because if we don’t do the good works He has prepared for us to do either they don’t get done or He’ll find someone else to do them instead.
We can sugar coat it all we want but these scriptures have clearly told us not to do it, don’t compare ourselves in any way to anyone else. To do so is sin. Are you guilty of comparing yourself to others? Have you coveted others belongings? Have you looked at others gifting and wished they were your own? Have you looked at others ministries and thought, why doesn’t God use me like that? Do you look at others families and think they have less problems than your own? Or are you feeling puffed up with pride because your child is on the honor roll and your neighbor’s child is on drugs?
If you’re struggling with this don’t say I shouldn’t be struggling with this, confess it as sin and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome this, because face it, we can’t produce fruit on our own. There’s nothing righteous in us, without the Holy Spirit we’re hopeless but we have HIM living in us and He has promised to never leave or forsake us. He has also promised “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 So, let’s walk in the good works that God has prepared for us, living the abundant life that Jesus died to give us, and stop comparing ourselves to others.
