Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! NLT

In Romans 12:3 Paul writes:

”For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…”

However, In Corinth, he was being undermined by some self-important critics. They felt vastly superior to Paul. At least, they gave that impression.

Comparisons can be odious. When we compare ourselves with others we face at least two dangers:

a.) That of feeling inferior. They are so much more better than us, we imagine: more gifted, more able more…everything really!! (This can also feed poisonous weeds of jealousy in the soil of our hearts, causing them to grow and gain a stranglehold);

b.) That of feeling superior. Inwardly, we look down on others from a great height. We may successfully hide these attitudes from them, but we can never hide from God.

‘…if three small people stand side by side, they can convince themselves that they are all really quite tall – until a really tall person comes into the room. Or, again, I might imagine to myself that I am really seven feet tall; but if there’s a rule on the wall that I can measure myself by, an objective standard, marked out in feet and inches (or metres and centimetres), I will soon learn my mistake.’ Tom Wright

Similarly, I may think that I am very good at a particular sport – say badminton, for example. But then I get to play a true pro, and that puts me firmly in my place. The benchmark shows how low my level actually is.

‘There is only one measurement, one standard, by which we should measure ourselves; and that is the standard of Jesus Christ. Only when we compare ourselves with Christ will we be able to measure ourselves accurately. And when we compare ourselves with Christ, how unworthy we appear!’ Tom Hale

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