Each person should test their own work and be happy with doing a good job and not compare themselves with others.
Reflection
Most of us are not very kind to ourselves. So, I am fairly convinced that when we only read this one verse, we hear it as an encouragement to believe that we are actually enough. We don’t need to look around and worry if others are better than us because God has already given us what we need. That’s an important message.
But when we read the verse in context, the author seems to be suggesting that there is another way we tend to compare ourselves and the “work” of our lives to others – we think we are better than them.
“If anyone thinks they are important when they aren’t, they are fooling themselves,” verse three states. The text seems to say that sometimes people – especially “spiritual” people – have a habit of looking down on others we decide are “less than.” Less faithful than us. Less productive than us. Less kind, intelligent, or gracious than us.
Have you ever found yourself criticizing someone in a way that damaged your relationship with them? Or perhaps you felt justified in saying harmful things behind another person’s back simply because what you shared was true. Maybe you dislike an individual so much that the mere mention of their name inspires an eye roll.
Sometimes I am not even sure we realize how quickly our egos can take over and impact – not only how we treat the people around us – but our own well-being. We can become so distracted and overwhelmed by our judgments of others that frankly, we kind of become miserable people. And more than that, when we start judging others — we stop doing good and we miss the way the Holy Spirit might be at work in our lives and in theirs.
Perhaps one of the things we must let go of in this season of overwhelm is the arrogance to think we are somehow better than anybody else. Frankly, I think we’d be happier people – not only because our relationships would be in a healthier place – but because I think we’d see God at work more readily.
by Kate Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
Who is one person you are guilty of judging or looking down upon? Ask God for forgiveness and the strength to try to see that person as God does.
Prayer: Gracious God, you know I am not perfect. Forgive me: when my judgments keep me from seeing others as You created them, when I regard myself higher than I ought, when I treat your children as something to look down upon or despise. Help me to trust that in my shortcomings and in the shortcomings of others, Your love is at work. May mine be also. Amen.
