Dear comparison,
I have given into you before. For many of my younger years, I allowed you to steal moments that could have been joyful and pieces of relationships that could have been fruitful. I allowed you to take too much that was not yours to have. I remember the joys that you stole, the tears you caused, the hardness that resulted.
Dear comparison,
you are not welcome here.
Whether you are wrapped in an deceiving sense of accomplishment simply because I am “better” on human terms,
or whether you are wrapped in condemnation, simply because I believe I am less-than according to the world’s terms,
it matters not to me.
As a new creation,
I hate to be harsh, but…
I actually refuse to welcome you here.
You have reigned for far too long in the hearts of believers, and my Father does not appreciate any acquaintanceship with you.
He sees the way you’ve hurt me,
the way you pain others,
the divisions you’ve crafted,
the tall and lofty walls you’ve built,
the coveting you’ve evoked,
the deception you’ve conjured,
the careless words you cause,
the hearts that you’ve hardened.
Your evil and dividing work has not gone unnoticed. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Comparison,
Not only do I not welcome you, but more importantly,
He does not welcome you.
You see, He has set me free from you and your lies.
He has taught me the freedom of admiring another’s beauty, intelligence, humor, artistic ability, story, experiences… without questioning the value of my own.
He has taught me the truth of my value:
that it isn’t dependent on my neighbor.
And the truth of my neighbor’s value:
that it isn’t dependent on me.
He crafted me, my experiences, my body, my life, my story with a purpose.
And He crafted her experiences, her body, her life, her story with a purpose.
And He crafted his experiences, his body, his life, his story with a purpose.
And He will not allow you to devalue the things that He made.
He will not allow you to put a price tag on them.
His work is too priceless for that.
And so now, I can no longer settle for your lies, and I won’t let my neighbor settle for them either. They deserve more than you. I will give them love and support on their individual journeys.
He does not stand for divisions among His people, He does not stand for unrighteous jealousy, He does not stand for hardened hearts.
And so neither will I.
I love His kingdom and His people too much to allow such things.
With all sincerity,
m.m.
“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” – 2 Corinthians 10:22 (emphasis added)
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.” – Galatians 6:3-5 (emphasis added)
“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” – 1 Corinthians 4:7 (emphasis added)
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” – Exodus 20:17
earth to mm 