The Thief of Every Day Values
One of the most debilitating diseases we may live with, especially today, in our modern,
fast paced and troubled world we live in, is ‘comparatonitis! It is a paraphrased and
made to order word which translates to ‘the tendency to measure your self-worth by
comparing and sometimes coveting yourself to others’. It also won’t be found in any
company’s disability, health insurance or workman’s comp form of coverage or
reimbursement! But there is no mistake about it, the thoughts, and workings of
‘comparatonitus’ is one of the worst and unfortunately widespread conditions known to
‘man and woman-kind’ of all time!
We’ve all suffered from it one time or another. It’s an easy trap to fall into! It’s not easy
to let go of what we think ‘should be’ and still be content with reality. There are many
times we look at this false ideal and it is born from looking at what others have, or
following someone’s ideals in real life, or on social media, that appears to see them, as
having the perfect life, ideas, look, family than what you may have!
It’s so easy for all of us to suffer from this ancient disease that’s been around for
thousands of years! This form of "one-ups man ship” or as a phrase of my growing up
years, ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ standard, can keep us all from putting our best foot
forward and that could become a very bad and self-sabotaging habit.
Think about it, it’s an easy form of thought process to spot in ourselves or others. Do
you find ways to possibly look down on others and think highly of yourself in
comparison because you could enjoy greater abilities, intelligence, status in the
community or workplace, a better residence or neighborhood or wealth than others? Or
possibly, do you think the opposite by looking down on yourself and envy others
because you feel you are not as capable, smart, powerful, rich, educated, positioned or
most anything else than others are? "Comparisons” can keep us from putting our own
best foot forward in many ways and self-sabotaging ourselves!
The Apostle Paul was totally aware of how negative comparisons could be. He offered a
positive approach for it in seeing ourselves not as we line up against other people and
not as others evaluate us but as God sees us! (Romans 12:3) God’s estimate for the
worth of ourselves and others, is what matters to Jesus Christ! God never looks at all of
us the same, including whether we are a man or woman, who our family is, and their
heritage, how tall or short we are, what we look like, what race or what color we are!
None of these things matter to Him!
Paul found out that God’s Grace made him who he was (1 Corinthians 15:10) and that
despite his past life before conversion from Saul, God made Paul into a new person. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Peter learned that God’s power and love gave Peter all he ever needed
to live his life and pursue Godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
There are major reasons "Comparatonitus ” has set into many of us today, such as our
own doubts, fears and insecurities. Let’s not also forget about the articles, photos found
on all the social media we seem to take so much interest in. There are many times when
things like these kill your own personal perspective. The tendencies we have are to
compare the fault s and flaws we realize within ourselves and either use those doubts to
critique others negatively to build ourselves up. These things could be based upon our
own inadequacies or by thinking that others do whatever they do better and that we have
nothing else to offer.
Take a good look at your own self and self-assess yourself the way that God sees you.
There will always be people that can-do things better than you and those who can’t do
things as well as you can!
The Apostle Paul advises us in his letter to the people of Galatia to, "Examine who you
are and the gifts and strengths you have been given, and to work with those gifts you
have been given with humility and responsibility.”
It is by His Grace we are saved…by His Word we should live…and by His Will we serve
all others…!
