Skip to main content

(New Article) Comparing and Competing


                 “You are still in Estevan?” 
                That statement was said with a mixture of amazement and questioning, with the emphasis on the “still” part. 
                My college buddy could not believe that I was still here.  Since our graduation, he had moved four times, always climbing the ladder to bigger churches.  In fact, he has become so well-known that he is now in demand as a speaker at many large events.
                Meanwhile, I am still in Estevan.  June 4th marked the end of my 30th year here and I could not be happier!  I love the people of this congregation so much that they have become like family.  I love living in a smaller city where you can not only get to know people well, but you see them often.  I love being involved with the speedway and going to Bruin games.  I love the fact that I do not have an hour-long commute to work.
                From my friend’s perspective, I am sure it seems like I have failed.  However, from my perspective, I could not feel more blessed.
                So, which one of us made the right choice?  Both!
                Here is the thing: My life is not diminished by his success.  Whether he, or anyone else, gets to do more, see more, or have more does not affect whether my life is good or not.  Conversely, my longevity in one community does not make his shorter-term stays look bad.  Each of us is doing what we think is best and living out of the blessings that we have been given.
                While it is true that comparing and competing with one another can inspire us to be better, sadly, most of the time all it does is discourage us and make us discontent.
                Here is the truth:  My life is not made better or worse by anything you do or do not do.  My life, just like yours, is guided and secured by Christ.
                As Jude 24 states, “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.  To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen”.
                That is the only measurement that matters.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

 What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly.  https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s    
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: A Path Worth Following

  Jehoram was a terrible king.  He reigned in Judah around the year 850 B.C. and he did not care about God or his people.  His first act as king was to assassinate his six brothers so that no one could challenge his authority.  He was brutal and selfish.   Therefore, when the Bible sums up his life, it says, “Jehoram… passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David” (2 Chronicles 21:20).  Did you catch that?  “To no one’s regret!”  What a terrible phrase for your tombstone. On the other hand, consider a lady named Tabitha.  She lived in the city of Joppa in the first century A.D. and we are told, “… she was always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36).  She became sick and died.  This caused the community so much grief that they called Peter, who was in the nearby town of Lydda, to come and help them.  When Peter arrived, a crowd gathered, bringing all the robes and other clothing that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This.... Which Way Are You Leaning?

   When Ben Patterson agreed to join three friends climbing Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park, he did not realize what he was signing up for.  Early in the day, it became clear that he was completely unprepared for the task.  In an effort to keep up with his more experienced friends, Ben took a shortcut.  It did not occur to him that there might be a reason the others had not selected this route, but he soon found out why.  Ben became stuck on the glacier.  He could not move up, down or sideways and one wrong move would send him sliding down a forty-five-degree slope to the valley floor miles below.   That is when one of his friends came to the rescue. His buddy leaned over the edge and carved some footholds in the ice.  He told Ben to step to the first foothold and immediately swing his other foot to the second, then his buddy would pull him to safety.  Lastly, his friend gave him one more piece of advice....
Post a Comment
Read more