The Comparison Trap (3) – Two Bags Full (Matt 25:14-30)

“Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” Do you remember this famous line from a pretty well-known classic? Isn’t it in our nature that we like to look to our left and to our right to see if we are doing ok, to see if we are better? But we said that there is just no win in comparison. If you are better, there is always someone else who is better than you. And if you not, you feel like you can never measure up. There is no end, there is no finish line and there is no sense of final satisfaction if we are caught in this comparison trap.

“Does she have more than me? Are they better off? Is he smarter, funnier, richer?” We preoccupy ourselves constantly with these questions, but God has a better plan. We said last week that the better mirror to look at is at God himself. We are to evaluate ourselves from God’s perspective, not ours, and certainly not those around us. Remember God calls you his son or daughter, and your maximum potential will be found only in the center of His will for you. “Does she have more than me? Are they better off? Is he smarter, funnier, richer?” We preoccupy ourselves constantly with these questions, but God has a better plan. We said last week that the better mirror to look at is at God himself. We are to evaluate ourselves from God’s perspective, not ours, and certainly not those around us. Remember God calls you his son or daughter, and your maximum potential will be found only in the center of His will for you.

Today as we close this series we are going to look at a familiar parable to illustrate the question God would have us ask—a question that will free us from the comparison trap once and for all.

Moving Forward

We can’t run someone else’s race. When we compare ourselves to other people, we’re telling God that our choices are his fault…that if he would entrust us with what someone else has we would behave differently. We need to refocus on what God has given us and run our own races. Celebrate what God has given others and leverage what God has given you.

Discussion Questions
1. In the message, Kevin uses the items on a bookshelf to represent the different aspects of our lives that define who we are. Talk about the items on your bookshelf—career, health, money, talent, family, skills, etc. How have they shaped you?

2. Which of the items do you most value? Why?

3. Which of the items is the least satisfying to you? Explain.

4. What is the one item on your bookshelf that is unique to you, the thing that makes you different from everyone else?

5. If you believed everything on your shelf—good and bad—was placed there by God, how would that change the way you view yourself? How would it change the way you use your money, skills, career, etc.

6. What is one thing you can do this week to begin to decide what you’re going to do with what God has entrusted to you?