I’m currently “competing” for a painting contract at work with another company. (We’re not competing in the sense of having “dance offs” or arm wrestling bouts…we’re just both submitting bids and painting some stuff so the property owners can compare.)
I had an opportunity to check out the work “my competitors” had completed…I was tempted…but eventually I decided to not to. I decided to concentrate on my own efforts instead, because in the end… I’m not the one making the decision…I’m not the “judge”. I realized NOTHING constructive would come from looking at their work. If I decided that their efforts were inferior in comparison to mine I could become cocky, and not do my best. If their work was clearly better I could become discouraged, and give up. But no matter what I might think…It would not affect the opinion of the ones making the decision…only my own work would do that!
As embarrassing as it is to admit, it’s tempting as Christians to “compare” our efforts with other Christians. It’s tempting as individuals and churches to make it a “competition”…to “judge” everyone else’s work. It’s tempting to become proud when we think we are “better”…to become discouraged when we find that we don’t measure up. In the end it’s always destructive.
What we think about others “work” isn’t important. We “compete” only with ourselves. The only thing that will matter is how we please the one who knows everything about us. Every thought. Every action. Every mistake. Every time.
17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” 1 Peter 1:17