The dangers of comparison

I've been pondering over the past few days the dangers of comparing oneself with others.  I suppose it's a natural thing to do, and there are aspects of the formative part of life which lead us in that direction.  I remember very well my school days when end of term reports and exam results ranked pupils in order of achievement (the more I think about that, the more unfair and inappropriate I think it is).

There are two very real dangers in comparing ourselves with others.  The first is when we compare ourselves with someone who displays a real talent in a particular area of life which we don't possess.  We can instantly feel greatly inferior, and come to believe that, by comparison, our talents are hardly worth speaking about.  To use the example of the classroom situation, a pupil who finds themselves ranked towards the bottom of the class may feel despondent, despite the fact that they have performed to the best of their ability.  I must confess to falling into this error at times over the years.

The other error we fall into is to compare ourselves with someone to whom we feel superior.  Perhaps we find ourselves blessed with a gift in a particular area which not many others possess.  If we are not careful, we can be led into feelings of pride (and we all know what pride comes before!) and complacency.  It's rarely, if ever, a good thing to compare ourselves with others; we were never meant to try and be someone else.  I like this image:

I am currently using a book of daily readings by Rolland and Heidi Baker, called 'Reckless Devotion.'  I am finding it to be both challenging and inspiring.  The readings for the past couple of days have dealt with the subject of comparison.  I love what Heidi Baker writes on the subject:

'God has made each of us unique. You don't need to try to be anyone other than yourself. Your Father is thrilled with who he has made you to be. Walk in his acceptance and love.' 

'We don't need to try and be like anyone else.  You don't want to be me; you want to be you, fully filled with the power of the living God.  God is in the business of creating originals, not copies.  Embrace the fact that he made you to be you, and then cooperate with him.  When you stop striving and struggling and give him space, that's when his power can truly flow through you.'

Each of us is a unique creation.  God created each of us with enormous potential.  He never compares us with other people, why should we?  It's pointless striving to be someone else; it is bound to lead to disappointment and failure.  Instead, with God's help we can seek to be all that he intended us to be.