Why Comparing Yourself to Others Is Appealing-and Lethal

Nancy Guthrie, Jen Wilkin, and Jackie Hill Perry discuss the appeal and danger of comparison.
www.thegospelcoalition.org/ar...

[@thenopasslook]

Great video!

[@welpthisislife.5534]

I appreciate Jackie mentioning that not all comparison is bad; otherwise, this topic drives me nuts. Because, really, it all comes down to the heart behind the comparison. Are you admiring someone in how they do something well and hoping to learn from them? Are you appreciating the gift that God has given that person? Or is your comparison with a covetous spirit? Many Christian women’s events are trying to combat the body image issue along with other issues of comparison by telling us the moralistic message: don’t compare. But there’s so many aspects of life that we naturally compare, whether it’s subconsciously or consciously, to where that comparison benefits us. Paul tells the Corinthians to be imitators of him, which I think would prod some question of “am I living like Paul?” Perhaps I’m overextending the term of comparison, but I think comparison is a good thing. We can appreciate our differences and humbly praise God for the unique gifts He gives to each. Yet, it is true, often comparison in our current culture is used sinfully. But that doesn’t mean this God-given cognitive function (whatever it is) should be discarded or avoided. There’s so much diverse beauty of His works to behold-that to compare helps give us the appreciation of such diversity and beauty. That’s just my analytical perspective of this.

[@KathiKov]

Doesn’t the 10th Commandment deal with this rather directly?

[@eyeamwhoiam]

What! I will never tell the Lord that I am satisfied with the sin that his sovereignty allows… I will tell the Lord that I am satisfied in his grace alone despite the sin that his sovereignty allows and that I trust him and his sovereignty even though I do not understand it. I pray to God that sovereignty is not the excuse that Calvinism listens to the injustice throughout the world. This sounds like the very argument the slave masters used in order to try to convince slaves to be content. May God help us and thank God for those Christians who fought against the contentment of earthly slavery.

[@luvpeacejoy7]

leigh jay I hear what you're saying here and agree with it actually. I just wouldn't say that is what was ment to be said, to be "satisfied with the sin that his sovereignty allows" was not her words. I always to try to be more gracious with clips on topics like this because they could've gone a lot deeper, and not be so quick to assume overarching themes when that is not what was said. I do love your words though, to be "satisfied in his grace alone despite the sin that his sovereignty allows" .

[@lisably1919]

I didn't hear what you heard. I thought they were saying we are to be satisfied with the life God has given us, not with the sin we are to turn from . Paul in Galatians 1:15 said when it pleased God he was called through His grace. God is sovereign over everything in our life even when we are saved. What these women are saying is correct. We must take these thoughts of comparing ourselves captive and be content with the life He has given us.