This month, we are going to be in a series called “When the Good Go Bad.” The main idea from this series arrives as we take a closer look at people in the Bible who started
off on a great note, but sin crept in and harmed their ministry and relationships. Our heart as the pastors at Crestview is that this series would encourage all of us to take a
close look at ourselves and see the opportunities we have to take a next step towards Jesus, learning from the Biblical examples of what can happen when we seek the
world or ourselves instead of Him. With Pastor John’s message this week focusing on Miriam and her envy, I thought it would be good to take a dive into how envy, and
comparison, can be such an issue for followers of Jesus in our world today.
“An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.” Luke 9:46 (NIV)
Comparison doesn’t help us grow
From this passage in Luke, I have always found it interesting that the disciples start arguing about something that has nothing to do with what Jesus just said. Jesus has
just predicted His arrest and death at the hands of men, and the disciples just start arguing about which one of them is the best. I honestly think this interaction perfectly
reveals the danger of playing comparison games with people around us - it pulls our attention away from Jesus. Jesus is right in front of the disciples, and they’re focused
on themselves and each other. They have immediate access to the source of all joy and wisdom and instead they’re bickering amongst themselves. But we do this too.
The comparison game is so easy to play, because we can rig the rules to make ourselves win or lose depending on what we want. Whether we set ourselves up to win or
lose the comparison, we are serving our own selfishness and pride. It can show up in finances, appearances, relationships, even spiritually. If you go to the gym, you can
always compare yourself to someone that is gonna make you feel stronger, or compare yourself to someone else that makes you feel weaker. Neither comparison is helping
you to actually be stronger or in better shape. The same principle applies to every other aspect of our lives that we play the comparison game. Your relationships will not
improve by comparing yourself to other friendships or marriages or anything else. Your financial success will not improve by comparing your situation to others around you
and especially others online. And spiritually, we will not ever grow by comparing ourselves to other followers of Jesus. We can be encouraged by others, inspired by others,
held accountable by others - in fact, all these things are good and necessary within the community of believers - but as soon as we slide into comparison mode, we choke
out the growth that would be there.
There is only one right comparison to make
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
This is one of my favorite passages from the Bible. If there was one passage that I had to point someone to who wanted to follow Jesus well, it would be this. We have a
race to run; in order to run it well and with perseverance, this race of following Jesus, there is only one person we can fix our eyes on and it is Jesus Himself. He is the
“pioneer and perfecter” of our Christian faith. He did everything perfectly, and He did it all first. This passage says to fix your eyes on Him - Jesus - Who endured the cross
and is now at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him so that you will continue the race well.
The comparison game draws my eyes away from Jesus. The comparison game draws my consideration away from Jesus. Envy, pride, selfishness - these are all hindrances
that we must throw off so that we can follow Jesus. He helps us to do that as we fix our eyes on Him. Playing the comparison game is like trying to run a marathon
backwards with chains on. We aren’t looking the right way, and we’re carrying things that Jesus never wants us to carry. In our walk with Jesus, sin cannot cross the
finish line - we have to throw off the sin and focus on Jesus. In order for me to grow, my focus can’t be on how I stack up compared to the other runners or the other
people around me. My focus has to be on Jesus. The Bible invites us to die to the old self, to take off the old and clothe ourselves with the new. My comparison has to be,
“Am I more like Jesus today than I was yesterday? Have I taken off my old self today? Are my eyes fixed on Jesus?”
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)
We have this amazing gift from God in all His glory and grace. The Creator of the universe wants to call us His children. He wants to adopt us into His family. We can call
Him, “Father.” Our Heavenly Father is so good and so kind. He loves us so much. As I abide in that by fixing my eyes and my consideration on Christ, the comparison game
