December 1, 2016
The Lord doesn’t judge you by your accomplishments. He does not judge you by your job or your position. He doesn’t love one person more because they have a seemingly “glorious” ministry, work, or testimony, and love another less because they have a seemingly lesser job. His love for you doesn’t have anything to do with what ministry, job, or achievements you have. He loves you because you are you, and it doesn’t have anything to do with your accomplishments or the way other people look at you. He loves you because you’re you, because He created you to be a pleasure to Him, and He looks at your love and faithfulness to Him, not your accomplishments. He doesn’t compare you with others.
If the Lord doesn’t compare us with each other, then why should we? We don’t have to compete with others for the Lord’s love or favor. We are called to examine our own lives and discipleship according to our faithfulness to follow His direction for our lives. “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”1
So many times we can be tempted to compare ourselves to others; we feel others are more talented than we are, more handsome or beautiful, stronger, more intelligent, better witnesses, better teachers, or they exercise their gifts better—the list goes on and on! But we can know that all of that ultimately doesn’t matter when it comes to our relationship to the Lord.
Perhaps someone is more talented, more gifted, and has a more visible ministry or achievements, but to God it doesn’t matter. He judges you by what you do with the talents He’s given you, not the talents that He’s given to someone else. He loves you. And if you love Him and others and you’re doing your best to love and follow Him and be faithful in what He’s asked you to do, that’s what counts. So don’t give in to the temptation to compare yourself to others!
Of course, when we compare ourselves to others, often we’re not just concerned about the Lord’s opinion; we’re also concerned about the opinions of others and our peers. We worry about how we’ll fare if we are compared to others. But when we compare ourselves with others, this can lead to discontentment and serious discouragement. That’s one reason why the Lord warns us in the Bible that comparing ourselves among ourselves is not wise.2 We are not to look at what others have in the way of blessings, position, talents, etc. It’s really a dead-end street that will just drag you down.
The way out of comparing—or envy—battles is to be thankful for what the Lord has given you, trying to be content in whatever state you’re in, knowing that He loves you and has a specific purpose for your life that is yours alone. The only way you’ll find lasting joy and true satisfaction is to put your whole heart into what He calls you to do, and not spend your time wishing you were somehow different, or somebody else, somewhere else, or doing something else.
The Lord will reward us for our love for others, our obedience to Him and our faithfulness. Our faithfulness to Him in whatever sphere He places us will pay off with great rewards! Just think, your faithfulness and perseverance now, in spite of whatever hardships and difficulties you face, will be remembered in heaven forever, as the following prophecy indicates. That’s a terrific motivation, if you ask me.
What joy and contentment can be found in the knowledge that I love each of you as an individual. Each one is precious to Me. Each one is special to Me. I died for each one, I have redeemed each one, and thus each one is very special to Me.
Man looks on the outward appearance, but I look upon the heart. I am a God of love and mercy, righteousness, tenderness, forgiveness, and sympathy. My judgments are true and righteous altogether. My rewards are absolutely fair. My judgment is unfailingly just. My recompense is true.
I do not judge all men equally by counterbalance, but I judge each one as a unique creation. For each one is an individual, individually loved by Me. Each one is individually judged and rewarded according to My love, according to My wisdom, and according to My justice.
I said to those of old that followed Me, “What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.”3 It doesn’t matter what this one does or what that one does. What matters is that you follow Me, that you do those things that I have placed in your heart to do, that you perform those jobs that I have given you to do, that you are faithful in all that I have given you, to My calling for you.
Everything that you do for Me in this life is greatly rewarded in the life that is to come—much more than you could ever imagine! You will be given a hundredfold for your love and labor that is given to My kingdom.
There is no sacrifice that will go unrewarded or unseen or unnoticed by Me, for I see your every move and I know your every thought. I see your tears and I hear your prayers. I feel your concern, and when you struggle, when you are tempted and when you are weary and weak, I am moved with compassion upon you.
There is an everlasting record of your love and service for Me and the sacrifices you have made. It shall be a lasting record of how you gave your life and you believed and you served Me, having not seen but believed. This shall be counted unto you as great faith, and for this, you shall receive a great reward and unfathomable joy and contentment.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
Originally published February 1996. Adapted and republished December 2016.
Read by Debra Lee.
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