No Comparison

No Comparison

Titus 2: ⁷ In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching. ⁸ Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

 

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“But so and so did the same thing” was my argument in several instances. I tried to compare my actions with those of another person, usually when something was going wrong or when I did something “bad.” I was met with a startling response. “But we expect more out of you.”

 

• I was comparing myself to other people to justify my actions.
• I was not taking responsibility for issues I was causing.
• I wanted accolades by comparison, but not consequence.

 

Paul had just told Titus to guide older men and women and younger men to “live a holy life” by following sound doctrine. Then Paul turns directly to Titus by urging him to be accountable for his actions. Whether other people followed the advice of living a life for GOD, be responsible for your own actions.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to live a life that is pleasing to HIM.
• GOD wants me responsible for my actions versus passively trying to control others.
• GOD wants me to admit I am a sinner and I need a Savior.

 

Being accountable for my own sins is eye opening. I mean, it is easier to compare “my” good deeds to someone else who may not be doing what “I” am. Unfortunately, GOD detests when I compare myself to someone else. JESUS used a comparison parable when two people went to pray and one compared himself to another saying “I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there..”

 

The tax collector prayed “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” and JESUS then said the tax collector was justified versus the Pharisee. Comparison seems to enable a short memory for the sins and wrongs of the person. GOD wants me to have a memory that I am forgiven so I can carry grace. I am glad GOD forgives.

 

Challenge

• Was the writer being harsh in the advice given?
• Have you ever been in a situation where other people were misbehaving and you had a choice to not join in?
• What did you do?
• Will you be GOD’s example even when it is extremely hard to do so and keep away from comparing your life to other people?

Knowing What is Needed

Matthew 6: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

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“Please let the stock rise higher” was my “prayer-ish” thought. I was trying something new and I wanted to see if it would work. I invested in a “penny” stock to see if I could make some extra cash. I watched the value increase to a point just under my threshold. I figured the value would keep increasing. Suddenly it fell and fell and fell. Weeks later I got a letter stating the stock had no value.

• Sometimes the motive behind my prayer isn’t the best.
• Sometimes the method behind my prayer is loud and boisterous.
• Sometimes the length of my prayer, compared to “that” person, is too long.

Communicating to the GOD of the universe requires thinking sometimes. I mean other times when there is an emergency there may be no time to think. There are other times however that maybe I should stop for a moment and process what I’m about to ask GOD.

• GOD wants me to take prayer seriously.
• GOD wants me to have a habit of praying in secret so HE will reward me, not people.
• GOD wants me to want what HE wants so my prayers can align with HIS will.

Praying to be seen or heard is what GOD seems to be against in this passage. HE sees when I am trying to be the center of attention and rejects the prayer. Since HE wants me to succeed, HE teaches me to pray. HE guides me to acknowledge HIM as supreme, debts, temptation and HIS power to overcome anything.

GOD takes prayer very seriously. Whether eyes open or closed, head up or bowed, GOD takes time to listen to me. HE wants me to pray while walking, driving or in a closet on my knees. GOD listens when I earnestly pray.

• Are you trying to be seen by others when you pray?
• Do you feel you pray “better” than “that” person?
• Will you stop comparing yourself to others or trying to be seen and sincerely pray to the unseen GOD?

Bragging about sin

1 Corinthians 5: ⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.7 8 

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“They’ll never know that I took the key” I said to myself. We’ll have our fun, clean up and no one will be wise to our antics. Since I was the office clerk I had access to all the keys in the dorm. This went on for a while and soon I got sloppy and began to brag about how much fun we were having.

The news spread and soon we had too many people for our little hide away. Complaints surfaced and I had caused problems. My explanation was, “We were only trying to have a ‘little’ fun!”

• When I’m acting opposite of GOD’s ways I want a crowd to make me feel good.
• When I’m doing things GOD would not appreciate I want others to say I’m doing well.
• When I’m thinking GOD won’t mind what I do I seek accolades from people involved in the same sin I’m doing.

GOD wants me to examine myself and “get rid of the old yeast” or stop trying to hang with the ways of this world.  It’s tough to go against the tide and the world is asking me to let go of things sacred to GOD.  The world wants me to be greedy, lustful, sensual, and power hungry always seeking the finer things in life.

All of the items I mentioned are like little pieces of “yeast” that rises in the dough of my soul causing me to go deeper and deeper into sin. Soon I woke up questioning GOD, questioning HIS power and I was headed down the path of questioning HIS existence. Fortunately for me, HE had a better plan than the destructive one I wanted.

• Is there some “little” sin you are bragging about perhaps on some social network?
• Are you telling the girls or the guys about your escapades?
• Can you ask yourself if your actions or words are pleasing to GOD?
• Can you back off of “that” sin at least once today for GOD?

Character

Acts 24: ¹⁶ So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

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We were all walking back from a special program that my school had recommended me for.  I was taking High School math in eighth grade. Everyone was proud of me and it made me work harder. On this day we stopped by a local department store to look around. We wandered to the back of the store and lo and behold there were “naked” magazines back there!

I quickly ripped the cover off of one and took a fishing magazine cover and placed it over the pornographic magazine. I wonder how proud my parents and teachers would have been at that moment!

• I can look good in front of humans, but do I look good in front of GOD?
• I can make people believe I am “good” but what does GOD say about my character?
• I can pretend I am walking the straight and narrow but how many times has GOD seen me fall off the path?

Sin and a clear conscience can never go hand in hand. I noticed a very important word Paul uses in this very short scripture namely the word “and.” His conscience was clear before GOD “and” humans. In other words if you read his text messages or burst in on his conversations or read his Facebook page you would see him doing the same thing, living for GOD.

• GOD sees the times I sin “and” HE sees when I live for HIM.
• GOD knows the times I force serving HIM “and” the times when I am sincere.
• GOD looks at my mistakes “and” HE values my character.

There is nothing I can hide from GOD! HE knows every action and every thought. The only way I can bear HIS fruit is to admit my sins to HIM “and” turn away from them little by little. HE wants me to have character in other words HE wants me to act the same when no one is around looking at me.

• Are you acting with character?
• Are you stuck on the cycle of blatantly sinning and asking for forgiveness?
• Are you hiding your sin and waiting on someone to confront you?
• Won’t you claim victory over your problems by admitting your sins to GOD?
• Do you realize that sin has no power over you if you admit and begin to turn away from them?

I’m right here!

Acts 17: ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

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Sliding on ice took on a new meaning when I couldn’t get control of the car. It seemed like everything happened in slow motion as my sister and I approached the light post. Even though we were buckled in her head hit the windshield and my hand was bruised from hitting the steering wheel.

“GOD where were you? Why did this have to happen to us?” I exclaimed.

• When I seek my way I can’t see GOD.
• When I seek my definition of perfection I can’t see GOD.
• When I seek my view on protection I can’t see GOD.

In college I did everything but seek GOD.  I blamed my parents and I blamed my professors and I blamed the cops and landlords and bill collectors for how life was mistreating me. I wondered where GOD was when I had troubles and I never stopped to thank HIM when times were good.

Women and parties and being the big man on campus seemed fun and a lot of people knew me BUT GOD wanted something different.

• GOD created me with free will to choose HIM and HE knew I would turn my back on HIM.
• GOD created me knowing I would choose sin yet HE forgave me anyway.
• GOD created me at to serve in this point in time with this family in this city because HIS purpose is pure and sincere.

Seeking GOD is difficult when my motives for seeking HIM are selfish. HE wants me to admit my sin to HIM and turn away from them as best I can and acknowledge I need HIM.  I got so busy looking for GOD that I couldn’t see HIM protecting me and guiding me every step of the way.

Now after admitting my flaws to HIM, HE continues to take the sin that I clutch onto so tightly away from me. HE does it so gently because HE desires a perfect relationship with me.

• Do you feel distant from GOD?
• Do you think you are not being shown grace?
• Have you considered that maybe GOD is showing you extreme grace?
• Will you consider changing your ways and specifically seek GOD today?