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June 02, 2021

The Clutches of Comparison

June 02, 2021 by SHIRLEY RALSTON COMPARISON Team unity & dynamics Being a woman in ministry Comparison
The Clutches of Comparison
  • by SHIRLEY RALSTON
  • Comment
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:4-8

I had an interesting conversation with a young woman who applies her professional skills in service to her church. Her spiritual gifting lies within the realm of the creative arts. As she compared her gifts to those of others on her team, she began to lament the gifts she didn’t possess, rather than value the ones she’d been given. Eventually, she recognized she was caught up in the trap of comparison. She made a commitment to free herself from its dangerous clutches. 


I’ve noticed that we women are especially vulnerable to unhealthy comparison… Even more so when we are serving in a new, cross-cultural environment. It’s natural for us to assess our role on a team and to identify where we fit within a new culture. The slippery slope from admiration to envy and to feeling “less than” begins when we view our own gifting as inadequate compared to others. 


In Romans 12, Paul encourages us to use the individual gifts the Holy Spirit has given. He instructs the Christian community to recognize the important role we each play for the common good of the body of Christ and for the kingdom. We are to be faithful to our own gifting, rather than envy the gifts of others. 


Remember, the Holy Spirit knows you intimately, and He has gifted you according to that intimate knowledge. Be inspired by what you see in others, but don’t let your thoughts park there for long. Failing to see the high value God has placed on your unique gifts downplays the way He created you for His glory. 


Trust your gifting, and guard against the temptation to see it as anything other than the special provision bestowed on you by our all-knowing God. 


The young woman I spoke with saw her gifting develop while she was living overseas in a cross-cultural environment. Over time, her gifts grew according to need, spiritual maturity, and experience. The same may be true for you, so be ready! 


“I think God could untangle your soul, your story, your gifts, your people, your place, and your passions, and begin to weave it into purposes that you haven’t been brave enough to imagine.” – Jennie Allen, Restless: Because You Were Made for More

Closing Prayer
Lord, I am Your creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works which You have prepared in advance for me to accomplish. You have fit me out, according to Your intimate knowledge of me, for every task and circumstance. Strengthen my will to obey thy will according to the gifts You have so graciously given me. Remind me of the value of my role within the body of Christ, and protect my mind from unhealthy comparison to others. Give me balance so I don’t consider myself any better than, or any less than, the other members of the body I serve alongside. As I mature in my walk, I ask that You would continue to sanctify me in every season of life as I serve you and the souls within my sphere of influence. Amen.
Resources
Article: The Gifts of the Spirit by Kenneth Boa This article is helpful because it addresses spiritual gifting in a manner that is biblically accurate. This is important because the teaching on spiritual gifts can often be misconstrued in the way we view ourselves and our work.
Book: Restless: Because You Were Made for More by Jennie Allen This book addresses how God has blessed us with our own unique gifts and talents for the purpose of using them for the kingdom.
Devotional: Breaking Free of the Comparison Trap by Sharon Jaynes
Question for Reflection

Do you struggle with comparison in regard to your spiritual gifts and the role you have in your family, your team, or your ministry?

Comments
Shirley Ralston
June 02, 2021

It has taken me a long time to be truly thankful for my own spiritual gifts and to recognize their value. They have changed and grown over the years, but I’m still vulnerable to the temptation to question my purpose.

When unhealthy comparison creeps in, I try to remember this analogy given to me by a very wise friend:

A blue whale and a bald eagle are both beautiful creatures. Any attempt to compare their beauty to one another falls woefully short. They are completely different, yet equally majestic, and both are part of God’s creation. The same is true of us and our spiritual gifts. Each of us are uniquely gifted and very different from one another, yet we are all equally valuable as part of the body of Christ. When we function as He intended, our value, usefulness, and purpose coalesce with the body of Christ for His glory, and we are beyond compare.