Comparison

One of the things I love about Solo & Ensemble contest, which we've been participating in the last two weekends, is the way the results are judged. It doesn't matter how the person ahead of you or after you does. There is no ranking of first to last at the end of the day. Instead, each entrant is judged and evaluated based on their own ability, against a scale of skills. In essence, every person is competing against themselves.

That's not the way the world works most of the time, is it? We're judged against others. Which one of us will do good enough to get the promotion? Who will get the prize at the top? Which team will come out on top in the Super Bowl? (We'll know tomorrow night...) We're judged against others. And if no one else will do that, we'll do that ourselves. We are wired in our culture to constantly evaluate ourselves against the other person. Am I better, faster, stronger, smarter, more attractive...and so on...

It makes me think of a story from John 21. It's after the resurrection, and the disciples have been fishing when they spot Jesus on the shore. He's made them breakfast (fish...ugh!) and after the meal, he and Peter go walking. John follows along behind, and Peter can't stand it. This is his time with Jesus! "Lord," Peter says, "what about him?" It's sort of a "which one is better" question. What about him? Do you love him as much as you do me, Jesus?

Jesus redirects the questions pretty quickly. "Never mind him, Peter. You follow me." That's it. All I'm worried about, Peter, is whether you're faithful to me or not.

And he says the same to us. When I'm comparing my faith to someone else's and feeling I come up short, Jesus says, "You follow me. You be faithful and don't worry about them. I'm doing a different work in their lives."

You...be faithful, no matter what the others do.

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