Life HacksSample

Comparing Ourselves to Others

Growing up and adulting is exciting, especially when we have friends and people around us who are also going through the same things. However, it can be easy to get stuck comparing ourselves to others or judging other people who are at the same place that we are. It’s easy to be jealous of someone who got into their top college choice when you didn’t, or resent someone who got the job you applied for. On the other hand, it can be easy to judge someone struggling to afford a place to live when you live in a nice apartment, or to look down on someone who is single when you have a steady relationship. 

Not surprisingly, the Bible has a lot to say about comparing ourselves to others. During Jesus’ sermon on the mount, his most famous teaching, Jesus warned his followers about comparing themselves and judging each other. He asked them, “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” Comparing ourselves to others and judging others is never good for us or our relationships. Think about what happens when you compare yourself to others — you end up feeling bad about yourself and entering a cycle of comparison that never ends. Judging others has the same effect — you might feel better about yourself for a few moments but ultimately feel guilty for putting others down and realize that you’re not much better anyway. 

Jesus’ advice is so practical but also super challenging. Next time you’re tempted to compare yourself to others or judge someone else, take a second and look inward. What do you need to change about your own life first? Where can you grow? Instead of pointing out flaws in others, take a moment to check where you need to change. Instead of comparing yourself to others unfavorably, look at the things you’ve accomplished. You’ll feel a lot better, and your relationships will be too. 

Challenge: Take a look inward. Have you been comparing yourself to others or judging others for where they are in life? Write down Matthew 7:3-5 and commit to memorizing it over the next few days. Put it in a place that you will see it, and when you feel tempted to compare or judge this week, take a moment to pray and remember this verse.