Performance Rating

2 Tim. 2:¹⁵ “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”

One major thing that cripples people is comparison. Comparison is a major hindrance to stepping up. And this is what God says about comparison in His Word. 2Cor.10:¹² [NIV] “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise” [with emphasis]. People are consistently looking around to see who they can rate themselves above. I pray longer than that person. I have three cars they only have one. I know the Scriptures more than him. It does not help. Is life not more than these things?

God says this kind of comparison is foolishness. Comparing one’s self with another person is the formula for failure. In counseling, I have met women that feel they are better than others because they had their children by natural birth and not C-section. That is the definition of failure, a failed destiny. When you do not understand your place in destiny, you begin to look around, looking for who you are better than.

God taught me this lesson in a very vivid way years ago. We set up an appraisal for leaders to be done anonymously by workers. Everyone was buzzing about it; the leaders were throwing tantrums and I was just enjoying the entire buzz. Honestly, back then I actually thought I was the best pastor in the world even though I would never say it. And in my room the night before we would go public with the reports, the Holy Spirit showed me my own report. I was not ready! That night I made a promise to God that when He checks back, I would be ready. And by the grace of God I put my house in order. I trashed comparing myself with anybody.

You are running against yourself. God is not going to rate you based on what another person did. God is going to rate you based on your own destiny. He is going to rate you based on what He expects from you.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please help me to focus and run my own race and get God’s approval, in Jesus Name. Amen!