pilgrim in progress

I received this email this morning from a good friend who is going through big time affliction. I think it captures so well the battle that many of us face when it comes to ministry, and life in general for that matter – namely, the temptation to compare ourselves with others.

“As Jesus was talking to Peter after the resurrection, one of the things pointed out was that Peter did not need to compare himself with John. Peter needed to be concerned with his own life. Peter was concerned with what sort of things would happen in John’s life compared to his. Jesus’ answer rebuked that pride that compares us to others. We think we can earn God’s favor, even after salvation through our deeds. If our acts are more righteous or just as some else, we think we should then be on equal footing in blessings and sufferings. The truth: favor cannot be earned. No amount of good deeds secure for us any sort of favorable future (by our standards favorable). In other words if two people do the exact same things, delight in God in the exact same amount (as though that is really measurable) there can be NO expectation of similar results. One may be blessed with prosperity and one with poverty. No way we say. We want to know that hard work pays off. But God does not work that way. Who are we to judge another man’s servant.”

We are truly treated better than we deserve to be – no matter our situation or affliction.

For a helpful resource on humility see CJ Mahany’s book ‘Humility: True Greatness.’