Jesus recognized this tendency we have to compare ourselves to others, and the sinful consequences when we do. Think about the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, as given in Luke 18:9-14:
"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
We look at this Pharisee and think, "How awful!” And yet how easy it is for us to compare ourselves to others with that same type of attitude. Like the Pharisee, we compare outward appearances and end up thinking we're pretty hot stuff. That kind of comparison leads us to a false security about ourselves and it leads us into pride.
How insidiously pride creeps into our thinking. How about you? Have you been looking at others lately and thinking: "Well, I look better than she does," or "I perform better than he does," or "I've got more to offer than they do.” When you make these kinds of comparisons, the sin of pride is taking over your mind. Jesus said at the end of this parable: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
Listen to yourself think and talk and see how often you compare yourself to others and end up feeling pretty proud of yourself. It's a very dangerous road to be on. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians that they should consider others more important than themselves. That's the attitude we need to have toward others.
What I find is particularly prevalent among business people is that we compare our positions and our salaries, and think we're more important than others because we've climbed the ladder higher or gotten another raise. Certainly that's one of the real dangers we face if we are ambitious—the sin of pride in thinking that we're better than others because we've got a bigger title or office.
Remember that in eternity those titles and salaries will have no meaning. For a Christian they should simply be viewed as resources to be used by God. If you're in that very typical but sinful practice of comparing your status to others and judging worth based on position, please read carefully Philippians 2 and 1 Corinthians 4:6-7. They will give you God's perspective.
Secondly, comparing ourselves to others can lead us to think that others are better than us. Consider the parable of the talents that Jesus gave us in Luke 19:11-27. Before leaving on a long trip, the master gives three servants certain talents, or resources. One servant received five talents, one two, and the third servant received only one talent.
When the master returned, he asked each of them to give an account of what they had done with those resources. The first servant reported that his five talents were now ten; the second servant similarly reported that his two talents were now four. But what about the third servant? He had taken his one talent and done nothing with it, and he had to report to the master that because he was afraid of losing it, he had hidden it and it was still only one.
The master rewards the first two servants equally: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” (Matt. 25:23).
