How did we get it into our heads that life is a competition? It's an absurd us-versus-them mentality with other people - even with those we haven't met! We compete in our minds with our neighbors, worrying ourselves over their possessions, their quality of lawn-care, or their Christmas decor. We wage war with our co-workers for a seat at the table or a voice in the decisions. We even race for the fastest line or the best parking space. We watch at the restaurant to see if someone who arrived after us gets seated first. We can make anything a competition. But...it’s only a competition, race, or battle if we decide it is and we are going to take part in it.

 

When it comes to spirituality, this plays out in an insidious manner. We extend our mentality of competition and, in order to gauge how we’re doing, we look at the people around us to see if we’re at least doing better than they are. What about him? What about her? In the closing verses of the Gospel of John, Peter does the same thing, pointing to another disciple and asking Jesus, “What about him?” Jesus responds by returning the focus to His personal relationship with Peter. The answer to our question of comparison is: don’t compare yourself with any other standard but Christ. To be like Jesus is our goal, not to be better than other people! When you and I spend our time and energy hearing from God and living for Him, we can bow out of the comparison game and live free of the anxiety of trying to measure up to anyone else’s standard.

Memorize Ephesians 2:10 this week:

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.