The Danger of Comparison
To consider the ‘Danger of Comparison’ in the context of Biblical stewardship, I want us to try to live in the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 25:14-30. Take a few moments, and read the story Jesus told.
Entering the story
I would like you to imagine you are one of the servants in the story. Your master is preparing to head out of town. For days you have been working to get him ready to leave. He is not taking a short, local journey but will travel a significant distance. It has required a lot of preparation and has been a big undertaking for all the staff.
The time for him to leave is nearly here. The supplies he needs were all secured. All the provisions are packed. The household is in a last minute frenzy making sure everything is where it needs to be. You were a busy part of that, but not at this instant.
Right now you are standing with two colleagues before your master. The work you were doing is on pause – you were called away. Summoned to a meeting. Your other colleagues arrived and, now that you are all present, your master begins to speak.
He explains that while he is away, he is placing the three of you in charge of his possession. He outlines what he expects of you, and then divides his money between you. Eight talents of gold is divided. You are responsible for two t, one of your colleagues is responsible for five, the other for one.
It is easy to compare
In that moment, it would be so easy for the three servants to begin comparing what they received. The servant responsible for one talent could look at his contemporary with two and wonder why he got double what he held in his hand. Similarly, the servant responsible for two talents could feel jealous and envious of the servant responsible for five talents because he has more than double what he received.
Alternately, the servant with responsibility for five talents, seeing how much more he got than his colleagues, could become prideful and self-exalting. His comparison could lead to a false sense of superiority and importance.
In this example, the servants assess what they received based on two things: the item, and what another person received. Can you relate? Can you think of examples where you have done this? Perhaps you consider someone else to have a better job, nicer house, faster car, an ideal family, the list could continue. Or maybe you have exalted yourself over another?
If we have ever acted like this example, we know how much difficulty we can get ourselves into. We become dissatisfied. We convince ourselves that we are more deserving of something else. That God doesn’t know us as well as we know ourselves. And we may even go so far as to attempt to engineer circumstances to get what we perceive is more suitable to us. Comparison can lead to a lot of trouble.
But the comparison is never equal
With our stewardship as Christians, I know of very few people who have been entrusted with identical things. There are some things that we have a stewardship responsibility over that is the same no matter who we are, where we live, the colour of our skin, the language we speak, or anything else that sets us apart from each other. The gospel is one such thing. We are all witnesses for God of his amazing, life-giving, grace and mercy that brings a sinner to salvation and saves a soul. We all steward this gospel message for God.
Beyond that, it is usually different. There are categories that are the same. Spiritual gifts. Physical health and wellbeing. But within these categories there is little to no identical assignments. You and I both have a spiritual gift. Identical. Mine may be teaching, yours may be helps. Different.
We get ourselves into trouble if we draw lines between ourselves and others based on these differences. We can use the distinctions to create rifts between brothers and sisters in Christ. Or start to focus more on being envious and covetous of what someone else has been given, when we think we would really have liked to have had that.
Comparison draws us into unbelief
When we do this, we unconsciously state that we do not believe that God knows what he is doing. We communicate that we do not have confidence in his ability to rightfully apportion his property and resources to his people. We elevate ourselves to his level – a level where we could never, nor should ever place ourselves – and say that we know better than God.
This is a huge danger to our contentment and confidence as stewards. Rather than recognizing the deliberateness of God’s assignment to us, if we use comparison to assess what we have, or don’t have, to those around us we can get ourselves into real difficulties.
Matthew 25:15 contains six important words that I want to end this post with, they are…
“…each according to his own ability…”
The assignments of the master in this parable were not random. They were deliberate. Based on the knowledge he had of each of these servants. It is just this way with God. The things that I am entrusted to steward may look different to yours, but they are perfectly suited to me. God knows me better than I know myself and that should give me tremendous confidence that the things I have to steward are exactly the right things for me and my circumstances.
A final activity
As you close today, it may be a good idea to spend some time in prayerful reflection, confession, and repentance with the Lord over any times where you have sought to show him that you thought you knew better than Him in his stewardship assignment. But also take the time to thank him for the things that he has entrusted to you too.
Up Next:
Explore Ownership more:
Stewardship Component #2 – Relationship
“My responsibility in light of Relationship” **Coming soon**
