Early on in life, we learn how to compare ourselves to others. We try to figure out who is smarter, faster, stronger, prettier, etc. And often we base our worth on how we compare to others. But when we find freedom in Christ, the power of comparison is taken away.

What do you find yourself comparing together the most?

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. —Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

Why is there no win in comparison?

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon chronicles his search for meaning in life. Look at what he says about envy.

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. —Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NLT)

Why is comparisons with others like chasing the wind?

When you allow comparison to be your master, it never is satisfied… and thus you will never find lasting satisfaction through comparison.

Fools fold their hands and run themselves. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. —Ecclesiastes 4:5-6 (NIV)

What do you think this means?

The Hebrew imagery here is that it is better to have one hand open so that God can put into it whatever he chooses.

How would this combat the struggle of comparison in our lives?

At its core, comparison is a search for significance. We all want who we are and what we do to count. And a shortcut in the search for significance is to simple see how we measure up to others. But the problem with this approach is that we are using the wrong standard of measurement.

When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” —1 Samuel 16:6-7 (NLT)

What does it mean that “God looks at the heart”?
Why is this important in our search for significance?
How does this help us stop the comparison game?