The Comparison Trap (2) – Looking Around (Gal 4:4-7)

Last week we started this series The Comparison Trap and we said that we are constantly looking to our right and to our left to see if we are doing ok? And by comparing we always want a bigger –er, right? We want to be smart-er, rich-er, skinny-er than those around us. When we do, we start to feel a little superior because we are a little better than some of those people. We know we shouldn’t feel this way, but that’s just the rule of comparison. You either feel superior or you feel inferior. So we concluded last week and this may be the one statement you have to remember throughout this series – There’s no win in comparison.

We ended last week and we asked the question – if we are to look anyway to see if we are doing ok where should we look? Now to answer that question we are going to unpack what it means to be a part of God’s family. Did you know that when you become a Christian God actually invited you to call him Dad? God’s opinion of us may provide something we haven’t yet found comparing ourselves to others. It could very well provide the self-assurance we have always been looking for.

Moving Forward

Who or what are you going to use as your reference point to tell you you’re okay? Take your cue about you from the One who made you, loves you, and redeemed you.

Discussion Questions

1. Are you currently chasing after something—a goal, job, relationship, or possession—that you hope will give you peace and contentment? Explain.

2. Just like a great parent doesn’t compare his or her child to another child, God doesn’t compare us to other people. Is it difficult to believe that God loves you like that? Why?

3. When you were a child, how did you respond to your parents’ rules? How has your perspective on the purpose of their rules changed now that you’re grown?

4. Read Galatians 4:4–7. When you pray, do you refer to God as “Father”? If you do, how does that affect the way you relate to God? If you don’t, why don’t you?

5. What is one thing you can do this week to allow God’s opinion of you shape who you are and the choices you make?