Uniqueness through Comparison

Galatians 1: 10 

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” 

In a world where there is so many different opinions on how you should act or behave, we see certain people, certain lifestyles and try to emulate and copy the way they walk and talk. But when we compare ourselves to Jesus, we set ourselves apart from this world. 

There is nothing wrong with wanting material things: we might see a particular car someone has and want that, or wear particular clothes, but we have to ask a question: do we want these things as simply materialistic things? Or are we wanting these things to seek the approvals of others. If in the act of wanting those things makes us feel inadequate, insecure and less of, then it becomes problematic. I believe there is a innate desire to want better, to live better. I believe that sense of hope was sent from God but instead of putting it in him, we put in other people in the form of comparison and jealousy.  

Some of us have different reasons for comparing ourselves with other people. Maybe you compare yourself because you want to make yourself feel better. We may look down on people through comparison instead of uplifting people. Maybe you compare yourself because you have made an idol out of what that person has. We may place the lack of what we have above God. Whatever the reason may be, we need our measure of comparison to be Jesus rather than other people. When our measure of comparison is with people, we lower ourselves to sin, but when our measure of comparison is with God, we lift ourselves to righteousness. 

It’s the idea of chasing perfection: it seems an impossible task, but the courage in itself sets you apart from your peers. Equally, Jesus is perfection: he lived 33 years without sin so that we can see how to live an authentic life the way God desires. Fundamentally comparing ourselves with Jesus sets humility. By our own strength we will always fall short, but through him we are able to do this impossible task.  

When we compare ourselves with other people there are two things we are indirectly saying: the first thing is that we are not good enough, that somehow the life we have is not sustaining. The second thing we are saying is that “God isn’t sufficient for me”, that somehow everything God has given in our lives isn’t worth acknowledging.  

The key thing I take from this verse is the idea of “still trying to please people”. There’s an emphasis on what was once a habit, has now become something we should reject if we are to claim the role as “a servant of Christ”. So instead of pleasing and comparing yourself to people: set yourself apart from this world, make yourself unique by comparing yourself to perfection.