Articles
How Do You Measure - 2 Cor. 10
How Do You Measure - 2 Cor. 10
12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. (2 Corinthians 10:12)
We live in a world of comparisons. It is a way of measuring things: batting average, points scored, popularity polls, etc., etc., etc.
There are some needs in order to be able to make an accurate comparison.
· The right STANDARD to use to make judgements.
· The right GOAL – the incentive for such measuring in the first place!
· Compare apples with apples – we must KNOW the abilities and opportunities of each that is being compared, and we simply do not have such knowledge!
· An unprejudiced judgment.
As for the right standard, it must be God’s standard. He has provided that to us by revelation of His own character and will. In our comparison we must compare ourselves with the standard of God’s revealed word. James said IT is our ‘mirror’. Thus, we compare OUR character/doing by God’s standard and NOT to others.
Comparing ourselves with ourselves leads to pride and arrogance! When the comparison is with God’s standard, we find the areas of life that we need improvement in.
As to the right goal, we must also be looking for opportunity to HELP others. For example, in being rich or poor. I compare NOT to be revered for being rich, but in order to find opportunity to share with those who are in need.
One of the reasons for NOT comparing ourselves to OTHERS is simply that we are not all the same! We are not comparing apples with apples because we each have different abilities, opportunities, and situations. The only one we really have enough knowledge about, so as to be able to make any comparison, is our self.
Our judgments and comparison are often rife with prejudice and a stacking of the ‘evidence’. We are NOT unprejudiced in our judgments of ourselves!
If we then honestly compare ourselves with God’s standard, we find that we fail, we fall short of the glory of God. Yet, we who are in Christ are acceptable unto God, not because we ‘measure up’, but because we find forgiveness. We, like the Corinthians, are washed, justified, and sanctified (1Cor. 6:9-11). In Christ we are chosen, redeemed, forgiven (read again Ephesians 1:3-10). Our goal is not to be better than each other, but to be a better self. Thankfully for all of us, there is forgiveness in Jesus. How are you measuring up?
Hugh DeLong
