SCRIP-BITS

1 Corinthians 11:1.        ‘Be ye followers (imitators) of me, even as I also am of Christ.’

Oh friends, it’s another sunshiny day in mid-September! And I must say that September is treating us very nicely with lots of decent summer weather in a very un-September-like manner. (smile) Yes, usually by mid-September we’re experiencing some cold days, getting us accustomed to the winter weather that’s forthcoming. But not so this year. And are we ever glad and thankful for it, and hope it continues for a while yet. And I guess we have to thank climate change for that blessing. But let’s remember that what we gain one way, we’re likely to lose another, so let’s not go overboard, for soon we might be singing a completely different song. (smile) 

And today I want to look at a quote from my ‘P.S. I LOVE YOU’ Poster. We haven’t looked at anything from it for a long while. And it’s simply a cardboard poster my young daughter gave me several years ago, with some living truths written on them. Quotes like this one: ‘Almost all of our unhappiness is the result of comparing ourselves to others.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth! It surely is! For in this modern day society, it’s all about comparisons, and wanting to be like somebody else, or have what they have. 

We simply are not satisfied to be who we are and grow in that character. It’s like we believe God didn’t know what He was doing when He made all of us different, even unique, so we have to fashion ourselves after others, like celebrities and other leaders and power brokers in our society, figuring that if we look and behave like them, we will become like them and acquire what they have. 

What utter rot! Especially when the supposed leaders of this society, the celebrities and influencers have no real substance to them, are two-faced, and their actual lives are truly not worth living, for many of them are miserable, unhappy, depressed and ungodly. They have never even truly lived through the ups and downs of real life but are endeavouring to tell others how to live. They are just leading people, especially the young ones astray, with all the nonsense on social media and the many other platforms available for posting their foolishness. 

But the power of the enemy, through strife, greed, envy, lust and the great desire for material wealth is driving the society to its unfortunate end. And unless believers stop comparing themselves to others, and stop wanting to be like those in the upper echelons of this ungodly and evil society, we too will suffer the same fate that they will eventually suffer; that’s utter destruction at the hands of a just and righteous God. 

Anyway, the really sad thing about comparing ourselves is that it can either make us angry, jealous and forgetful of all our many blessings, or it can make us proud, arrogant and thinking that we’re better than others. Neither of those outcomes is satisfactory, so let’s park for a minute and check out a few of the many scriptures that dissuade us from comparing ourselves to others. 

And this first scripture comes from Bruh Paul’s letter to the Philippians, where he advises then: ‘Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same LOVE, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the interests of others.’ (Phil. 2:2-4) And what does all of the mean? Basically to live in harmony with each other, and in humility, value others above yourselves, while paying serious attention to your own work, but also taking an interest in the work of others. 

Then there’s this scripture from James, that hits right to the heart of the matter. ‘But if ye have bitter envying and strife (self-seeking) in your hearts, glory not (do not boast), and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish (demonic). For where envying and strife is (self-seeking exist), there is confusion and every evil work.’ (James 3:14-16) Yes friends, holding on to envy, and trying to build ourselves up in front of others is nothing but unadulterated sin. 

And I like this verse from Bruh Paul to the Galatians: ‘For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.’ (Gal. 1:10) And that my people is the indisputable truth! If we seek to please men, then we obviously cannot please God. We must focus on Christ and not try to win the approval of others. So, therefore as this commentary tells us: ‘It does not matter what your neighbor has, is doing, or has done; it only matters that we focus on God and what He wants us to do and be.’ 

Now, we don’t have time for the many more scriptures on comparing ourselves to others, but we’ll close with this very important one. In the words of Bruh Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, he ardently advises and admonishes them: ‘Be ye followers (imitators) of me, even as I also am of Christ.’ (1 Cor. 11:1) Oh my people, if there’s anyone, we should desire to compare ourselves to, it ought to be none other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for He is the only One worthy of such an honour. 

As the author of Hebrews so confidently writes: ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (originator and perfector) of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction (hostility) of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint (become discouraged) in your minds (souls).’ (Heb. 11:2-3) Yes friends, if we want to compare, that’s the kind of comparison we ought to make! 

Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

And having said that, we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…the only comparison that interests God…is to that of Jesus Christ…in whose image He’s fashioning us…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien