Too many—particularly the gifted—ease their conscience while
doing far less than their best by correctly identifying that they are doing better than others. Most supposed Christians are content with who they are because they compare themselves to other equally fake Christians, not to Christ.1
Instead of comparing yourself to those who are worse than you, compare yourself to those who are better than you. Compare yourself to Christ,2 and you will find plenty of ways in which you can still grow.3 God did not send you here to be better than average. He sent you here to be better than you were, and more like he is. If you know of deviations between you and him, you still have important work to do.
Footnotes
- 1. This is an example of fearing man more than God. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”(Matthew 10:28) ↩
- 2. The Lord explained how his demonstration of the truth helped illuminate flaws in those who would not otherwise see them, and how vital it was for them to see them in order to overcome them: “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.” (John 9:39-41) ↩
- 3. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. (Psalm 56:11) ↩