Paul wrote: ‘Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life’ (vv. 4-5). Jesus was insistent on this. After the resurrection, He appeared to some of His followers. He gave Peter a specific pastoral assignment that included great sacrifice. Peter responded by pointing at John and asking, ‘“Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me”’ (John 21:21-22 NCV). In other words, stay focused on your own assignment. A little boy named Adam wanted to be like his friend Bobby. Adam loved the way Bobby walked and talked. Bobby, however, wanted to be like Charlie. Something about Charlie’s stride and accent intrigued him. Charlie, on the other hand, was impressed with Danny. Charlie wanted to look and sound like him. Danny, of all things, had a hero as well: Adam. He wanted to be just like Adam. So, Adam was imitating Bobby, who was imitating Charlie, who was imitating Danny, who was imitating Adam. It turns out that all Adam needed to do was to be himself! You can learn from others, but you can only find joy and fulfilment in being who God created you to be. So stay in your own lane. Run your own race. Nothing good happens when you compare and compete. Furthermore, God will not evaluate and reward you according to the talents of others, but according to how faithful you were with the gifts He gave you. You are not responsible for the nature of your gifts, but for how you use them.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.