The Comparison Sin
By Shirley Mitchell
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’
‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’ ”
Luke 10:38-42
At a National Women’s Convention, I heard Donna Otto, the leader of Homemaker’s By Choice, say, “A talk show host asked me a strange question one time that I had never thought about before. The host asked me, ‘What is the greatest sin of women today?’. I gave a one-word answer. For the next couple of weeks, I asked God to confirm for me that I gave the right answer.” (my paraphrase)
Until she gave the answer, my mind was racing. What would be a good answer? Then, Donna said, “My answer was comparisons. Comparisons are the greatest sin of women today.” (my paraphrase). When my friends and I drove back from the convention, we discussed this point for an hour. It was the most dynamic part of our car ride. What an eye-opener into each other’s hearts! Here is a short list of comparisons that I have heard to show that this happens so much in our lives.
“I’m irritating. People don’t like me as much as her.”
“Am I invisible? Why can’t they see me and they only see her?”
“Why can’t I look like her?” or “Why can’t I sing like her?”
“Why can’t I have a husband or kids like her?”
“Why does she get to go Israel and I don’t?”
“She loves her more than me. I can tell by how they hang out together.”
“I can’t believe she did that. Doesn’t she know better?” (I’m so much smarter)
“She’s doesn’t get it. I’m so much more spiritually together than her.”
“I would never make such a dumb decision as she did.”
“Why does she get to be a stay-at-home mom?”
“Why can’t I have her career?”
Comparisons and biting were prevalent and obvious in the teenage years. Since some of us have grown up, we have learned to contain the pain better. Sadly, some of us have found better ways to dish it out. I pray that we are secure in the love of Christ so that it does not attach itself to us anymore and that we are Christlike enough to not dish it out.
Beloved, let’s remember satan is not the creative one. God is the creative one. However, satan is the crafty one. If he knows that he can get women to sin by comparing ourselves to other women, then he will use this old trick time after time. It all stems from satan getting us to question our value. “Am I significant? Do I matter?” The sin of comparison is rooted in pride and unbelief. We put ourselves on the throne of life instead of taking the attitude of Psalm 84:10 – “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere, I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to ever dwell in the tent of the wicked.” In my words, “Whatever role you want me to play, Lord. I’m just happy to be on Your team.”
Pray with me: Oh, Lord, my God, open my eyes to how I compare myself to others. I don’t want live so insecurely. Give me gratitude for the life that You have given me. Give me the wisdom make the right choices. I matter to YOU! The ultimate opinion! Because of You, I am significant and that compels me to want to dwell in Your house forever. Just let me be on Your team. It’s in Jesus’ precious name that I pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study