Compared to What?

From an early age, we have constantly compared things all day every day.  And let’s face it, as women the thing we compare the most is ourselves to each other.  But why?

We compare because we have an inherent need to know that we are worth something.  We need to know that we are valuable to someone.  In the world’s economy, something’s worth can only be determined by comparison to something else.  So we compare and compare until we are simultaneously proud and disgusted with ourselves.  It’s exhausting and drains our lives of the meaning and purpose we were meant to walk in.

In God’s economy, however, each member of the human race is equally and immeasurably valuable, so valuable in fact, that Christ himself left heaven to come save us from ourselves.  In His view, your successful mentor at work and a starving child in Rwanda have EXACTLY the same value because they are made in His Image.  As much as we would NEVER admit it out loud, the fact that everyone around you is equally valuable may rub your pride the wrong way, we all want to be special.  But the truth of the matter is that YOU ARE, we are are all unique with God-given differences and personalities that allow us the to be special, but of equal, unfathomable value to the Lord. (Psalm 139: 13-16)  Aligning ourselves to this view of humanity frees us from thinking everyone is our competition. 

The blessings and successes of others do not diminish our value or our God-given purpose on this earth, our value is found in Christ alone.

But before we are tempted to think that we are all just super awesome in every way, it’s important to remember that our value has nothing to do with anything we’ve ever done.  Even on our best day, we come nowhere close to holy and are all at the mercy of God’s kindness (Rom. 3:23).  God showed this kindness by Christ’s death on the cross and the transferring of his righteousness to our accounts.

So let’s quit comparing.  Let’s pray this week for God to give us eyes to see ourselves and others as He sees us.

Challenge this week:

Believe that God has enough blessings and resources for you irrespective of the performance, behaviors and worthiness of others.


-Renee Moreland