Apples and Oranges

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." - Ephesians 6:4-5 (Message)

There will never be anyone else like you on the Earth. No one has or will walk in this world with the same circumstances, conditions, body, or mind that you have. God created each of us as distinct individuals. There is something uniquely special about every individual born on this Earth. So why do we spend a good portion of the time comparing ourselves to other people. We have a habit of measuring our own success next to the success or failure of another. In reality, comparing ourselves to others cheapens the distinct purpose God has for your life alone. Frankly, it is embedded in American culture. We look to the left and to the right instead of purely focusing on our own race. We covet after the issues, material wealth, or emotional relationships with other people instead of solely rejoicing in what we have.

It is crucial that we stop labeling ourselves and others. Pastor Sergio De La Mora of Cornerstone Church San Diego said, "Watch your inner picture of others!" He spoke poignantly about how each of us tend to create a picture inside of our head about each person that we see. We judge them based on what we heard about them or how they look. One of the verses he used is II Corinthians 5:16 which states, "We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be [by what they have or how they look], though we once judged Christ in that way. " His message really speaks to the idea that we limit ourselves and others by using appearance to define people.

For instance, I attended Loyola Marymount University to receive my undergraduate degree. I often looked at the other financial advantages of other students. I assumed that many of them were born with silver spoons in their mouths. I made sweeping judgements about their financial status based on the car they drove. Seeing as how I did not have a car, my subtle jealously only expanded. I wanted what they had. It is so interesting how we can look at someone else and believe that we know their whole story. We have not walked one day in their shoes but have already predicted what their lives are like in great detail. In many cases, if we knew the whole story we would not be tempted to lust after their lives.  I John 2: 15-16 reads, "Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Over the course of my life, I have learned that it is the things we don't have that help us build the most character. If you ask me if there is anything in my life that I would like to change, I would say no. Everything that I have gone through has helped me on the journey that God set before me. Take a genuine glance at yourself. Assess your commitment and obedience to God. If you have a heart for him, everything else will fall into place. Matthew 6:33 reads, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." You must come to a place of peace that though you may not have everything you want to have, you are right where God wants you to be. Don't worry about anyone else. Be thankful and happy for the blessings that others are receiving. No one can do what you have been given birth to do. Comparing yourself to others is like comparing apples to oranges. We are all fruit but flavored, textured, and purposed in different ways. The world is waiting for your unique flavor.

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