Comparison: The Ruin of Joy

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 Cor. 10:12

By: Carol McClain @carol_mcclain

I sit in Salem, MA with the Boston Marathon in progress. Among the runners: a man who ran 120 marathons, a survivor of the 2013 Marathon Bombing, and a man with dwarfism who was spotlighted on The Today Show.

Me? I ran a measly four marathons and another is not in my future.

What do I lose with the attitude of my previous sentence? 

I ruin the joy of my successes.

He blessed me with good health and endurance and a gift of speed so that of the four marathons I ran, I took home a silver medal and a bronze. I still run, but am not willing to put in the hours and the pain it takes to compete in another marathon. Walking is good enough.

I ruin the joy of rejoicing in other's accomplishment.

However, more than the glory of the accomplishments I've made, I will lose the joy of rejoicing with those who are gifted beyond me.

The man with dwarfism is a good friend of my daughter's. She's currently tracking him, cheering as, briefly, he ran with the elite runners. (Yes, they lapped him, but still, John will finish in four hours--no small feat.)

Comparison Ruins Lives.
Which mask do you wish to wear?

I ruin inspiration.

The woman with the prosthetic leg inspires me to overcome my own inabilities. The joie de vivre of the runners make me want to do more than pick out my running clothes, but force me to put them on and hit the pavement.

I tell God He failed in my creation.

God fits us in the body as He desires. 1 Cor. 12:17 says we all can't have the same function--if we did, the body wouldn't function. He made me. I'm responsible for being the best I can be.

However, God doesn't expect me to be an elite runner or a master stained glass artist or an award winning author. He just expects me to use these gifts, to love working them and to live my life wholly and holy dedicated to him.

Do you lose your joy in comparisons?

Quick Tweets

Four things you ruin with comparisons. click to tweet

How to live your life wholly and holy dedicated to God. click to tweet

Lacking Joy? How to regain it. click to tweet