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

Consider This: Who Needs Worship?

  Why does God need our worship? The events of Matthew 14 provide at least one answer.   This chapter starts with the beheading of John the Baptist (verses 1-12). This is the first in a series of events that indicate things are about to become much more difficult for the believers. Next, the scene shifts to a crowd gathered on a hillside in Galilee. After listening to Jesus teach all day, the apostles realized that these people had nothing to eat. They brought the problem to Jesus. He took a child’s lunch and fed the entire group of five thousand men plus women and children. Afterwards, they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers (verses 13-21).   Then Jesus told them to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee. As they went, a storm arose, and the apostles were scared. They struggled along until Jesus came to them walking on the water. Peter tried walking on the water too and sank. After Jesus rescued Peter, they got into the boat, and the storm immediately s...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Spiritual Makeover (1 Peter 1:13-16)

 Three responses to the new life God has given us.  https://youtu.be/FmqX5-3jOKc  
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: The Danger of Drifting

   Consider This: The Danger of Drifting Most people will not blow up their life in one big, messy moment. It can happen, and when it does, the damage is obvious and instantaneous. Like a car wreck at an intersection, people make a bad decision, and chaos ensues. Parts and pieces scatter all over. People get hurt. Situations like this are unexpected, loud, shocking and scary. Most of us will not wreck our lives in one big, terrible moment. The real danger is that we will lose what is valuable in small, almost imperceptible steps. It happens all the time. You can leave your marriage without ever leaving your house. You can leave your faith while still attending church. You can leave your life while you are still living it. Many people lose what they love, not by making one big, out-of-character decision, but by coasting, disengaging, neglecting and missing what matters. Almost every Biblical list of Christian characteristics mentions “Self-control”, yet I have not g...
Post a Comment
Read more