Comparison & Judgements

In the kingdom of heaven, God does not make comparison between the saints. His eye looks upon each according to Himself, His relationship with them and His will...

In Hebrews 11, the "hall of fame of faith" chapter, you see different people being accredited faith by God, but you also notice that although their actions were noted, they were not awarded according to the size of their actions. Some have been noted to moved in faith, one day of their life, others a lifetime. Some, even at first, doubting the promises of God are credited faith as much as those who are recorded with assured faith from the beginning. The common denominator of this score of noted "faith" characters was their trust in God.

In the bible, the only times you see God comparing people were times to expose the heart and motives of people... those whose we blinded by their own sin or hypocrites in judgement. In exposing the motives of people, God is exposing His heart at the same time. His intentions of exposure if for restoration to His purposes and ordained laws & promises, where so many have fallen in following their own ways.

In John 21, Jesus calls out Peter's comparison to John something that should not be considered and a place that Peter has no right to tread. “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (v.22)

Jesus makes is very clear that comparing yourself to others is trespassing in waters that you do not belong. Comparison and judgement walk hand-in-hand, because where you find comparison, more often than not, you will find a judgement where one is the crowned winner, and the other, the loser.
And as silly as it seems, many will deem themselves the loser. But whether or not you may crown yourself the winner or the loser, this is NOT what God desires. He seeks to be the highest judge where He judges you through the lens of Christ's blood and sacrifice over you. He judges you in the power, freedom and restoration of the cross...in how He fashioned you and how He desires to fulfill your life according to your highest relationship in Him and your purpose.

Paul was very keen to the understanding who should be in the judge's seat and who shouldn't be:
^“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.  Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” ~ I Corinthians 4:2-5

He was urgently proclaiming a truth to the local body, to be aware and proactively demolish an unseen enemy that was warring to tear down the body of Christ. Comparison and Judgement first takes it's claim in the mind, and if we are not so aware, we will easily give it over to lies rather than God's truth.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Even in comparing other ministries to ones you may be involved in, other leaders to yours...test your motives and your heart. There is a difference between the heart of comparison and the heart of confidence.  In 2 Corinthians 10, its says to "....confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you...For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory.  But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."

Be confident in what the Lord have placed before you in your life (I Peter 4:10-11). Do not leave any room to compare your own accomplishments or failures to anyone else's. Although it may be beyond your comfort zone, He is asking you to fix your eyes on him (2 Cor. 4:17-18, Hebrews 12:2-3). He will give you the strength and power that you need (Ephesians 1:18-22, Isaiah 40:28-31) and you will be victorious (1 John 5:3-5, I Cor. 15:54-58!)