Tag: Comparing is Not Good - 2 Corinthians 9-10

2 Corinthians 10:12

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.

Tag:  Comparing is NOT Good. 

When Jesus was on the earth He often came in contact with the religious leaders of the day. One of them stated the following:

Luke 18:11

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

This is the point Paul is getting at in the above passage he wrote to the church at Corinth.  There were those in the church who were "comparing themselves among themselves."  There were those in the church who thought Paul might be able to write strong letters, but in real life he was a weak leader.  Probably by the worlds standard of the day, Paul was not one of those natural born leaders.  He was probably more comfortable (my human nature) in class room than a board room.   But, Paul's standard was not other people. He did not measure himself by how he appeared to others or how he compared to others (this is a major thought in leadership training today ... we are teaching leaders to look like other leaders and not to look like Christ).  Paul's standard was NOT other leaders, or how he looked to others.  Paul's standard was Christ and how he compared to Christ:

1 Corinthians 4:3-5

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

He will go on, in that same chapter of his first letter to them, to tell them to "imitate" him, as he "imitates" Christ.   But, his point is that we are not to measure ourselves by the standards of those around them but in regard to the image of Christ.  If I mirror Christ I have no judge or jury to convict me. I have nothing more excellent to follow than Him!!!