The Two Ways Comparison Actually Leads to True Comfort
Some time ago, I wrote a post about how dangerous it is to compare ourselves to others. Whether your comparisons make you feel bad about yourself, or whether they cause you to feel superior to someone else, the comparing game causes pain.
At least, when we're framing it in a me versus you format.
Why did God include so many stories of people in the Bible? If we shouldn't compare, why did He write of Esther and her courage, of Ruth and her diligence, of Tamar and her seduction, of Mary and her obedience, of Naomi and her bitterness?
The Bible is ultimately the story of God, His creation, the first man and woman's betrayal, His undying love and sacrifice, and His rescue of mankind from their sin and complete victory over evil. But along the way, we read of many people, both good and bad, both repentant and in denial.
What was the reason for all of these stories? Was it just to make the Bible longer? Did God have a word count He wanted to hit, and so decided "I'm gonna include that story about Deborah and Barak; it'll add another couple of thousand words"?
I'm no mind reader, but I'm pretty positive the answer's no.
Rather, I think He did it in part for us to see what His grace looks like.
Are there actually some good ways to compare? I hesitate to use that word, because comparing nearly always has a negative connotation. Our minds go straight to the bad way of using it. I compare myself, my actions, my successes and failures, directly to yours and allow you to be my measuring stick. But technically, the way I think these stories are helpful is in comparing.
Just a different sort of comparing.
Instead of the people in the Bible being worse or better than us, it's God's provision and grace to them versus His provision and grace to us.
Framed in this way, there are two safe and necessary ways for us to use comparison.
1. God gave us stories of faith, strength, courage, to show what we can do through His power.
Esther could've given up and hidden in her chambers, hoping Haman somehow missed her family. Ruth could've returned to her false gods, deciding that the God Who allowed her husband to die wasn't the One she wanted to serve. Mary could've said, "No way, what will people think when they find out I'm pregnant? Your own law condemns adulterers, God, and that's how they'll see me."
But Esther was brave, and went to see the king even though she could've died as soon as she entered his presence without being summoned (Esther 5:1-2).
Ruth refused to leave Naomi, even when Naomi urged her to go back, choosing to stay loyal to the family and God she had chosen (Ruth 1:16-17).
Mary doubtless endured rumors, dirty looks, and shunning by her community, determining that what really mattered was not other people's opinions and gossip, but whether she pleased God.
These serve as reminders to us, as encouragement. If God could strengthen a Moabite woman, give aid to a queen in a precarious position at a perilous time, protect and strengthen a girl whose community would assume the worst, He can help us through our struggles and difficulties.
You can face another day when your world seems to be crumbling, because if God gave strength to these women to endure in the worst seasons of their lives, surely He'll be with you to endure in this time.
I can do a kind thing for someone who's mistreated me because surely God will give me the same grace He gave a young Israelite girl who told Naaman, the man who made her a slave, of Elisha who through God could cure his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14).
2. God gave us stories of betrayal, despair, and "unforgivable" sins to show us how much He forgives.
Tamar committed adultery (Genesis 38:13-18). Rahab was a prostitute (Joshua 2). Naomi despaired of God's goodness, and let her grief turn to self-pity and bitterness (Ruth 1:19-20).
All of their sins are nothing worse than those we've committed.
We have fallen into doubt and despair that God actually had our best in mind.
We have put the things of this world above the things of God.
All of these things are sins. And God is ready and willing to forgive us all of these sins.
The Bible doesn't say whether Tamar ever sought God's forgiveness for her sin, but we can know He would've forgiven her because He forgave David for adultery (2 Samuel 12:9-14).
Even though Naomi doubted God, He didn't abandon her, but worked out a way for her to be provided for (Ruth 4:14-16).
Rahab is listed in Hebrews 11:31, commended for her faith in hiding the spies in Jericho.
If God forgives such great wrongs, He'll forgive our sins, if we seek forgiveness.
We don't have to fear doing something that will put us past redemption. The Bible is filled with accounts of people who seemed beyond redemption.
But when they sought His forgiveness, He was quick to grant it. When we sin, God is quick to forgive us when we ask. No matter what you've done, if Jesus reigns as Lord in your heart, if you've sought His forgiveness, He has forgiven you.
Comparison brings us great comfort when we compare God's actions of the past with how He acts today.
When we feel overwhelmed, like we can't endure any longer, we can look to the Bible and realize that, if He provided for His people's needs (physical, mental, and spiritual) in the past, He provides now.
When we have sinned, and think that what we've done is unforgivable, we can look into the Bible and realize that, if He forgave the sins of those who lived before us, He's willing to forgive our sins now.
And that brings me comfort.
At least, when we're framing it in a me versus you format.
Why did God include so many stories of people in the Bible? If we shouldn't compare, why did He write of Esther and her courage, of Ruth and her diligence, of Tamar and her seduction, of Mary and her obedience, of Naomi and her bitterness?
The Bible is ultimately the story of God, His creation, the first man and woman's betrayal, His undying love and sacrifice, and His rescue of mankind from their sin and complete victory over evil. But along the way, we read of many people, both good and bad, both repentant and in denial.
What was the reason for all of these stories? Was it just to make the Bible longer? Did God have a word count He wanted to hit, and so decided "I'm gonna include that story about Deborah and Barak; it'll add another couple of thousand words"?
I'm no mind reader, but I'm pretty positive the answer's no.
Rather, I think He did it in part for us to see what His grace looks like.
Are there actually some good ways to compare? I hesitate to use that word, because comparing nearly always has a negative connotation. Our minds go straight to the bad way of using it. I compare myself, my actions, my successes and failures, directly to yours and allow you to be my measuring stick. But technically, the way I think these stories are helpful is in comparing.
Just a different sort of comparing.
Instead of the people in the Bible being worse or better than us, it's God's provision and grace to them versus His provision and grace to us.
Framed in this way, there are two safe and necessary ways for us to use comparison.
1. God gave us stories of faith, strength, courage, to show what we can do through His power.
Esther could've given up and hidden in her chambers, hoping Haman somehow missed her family. Ruth could've returned to her false gods, deciding that the God Who allowed her husband to die wasn't the One she wanted to serve. Mary could've said, "No way, what will people think when they find out I'm pregnant? Your own law condemns adulterers, God, and that's how they'll see me."
But Esther was brave, and went to see the king even though she could've died as soon as she entered his presence without being summoned (Esther 5:1-2).
Ruth refused to leave Naomi, even when Naomi urged her to go back, choosing to stay loyal to the family and God she had chosen (Ruth 1:16-17).
Mary doubtless endured rumors, dirty looks, and shunning by her community, determining that what really mattered was not other people's opinions and gossip, but whether she pleased God.
These serve as reminders to us, as encouragement. If God could strengthen a Moabite woman, give aid to a queen in a precarious position at a perilous time, protect and strengthen a girl whose community would assume the worst, He can help us through our struggles and difficulties.
You can face another day when your world seems to be crumbling, because if God gave strength to these women to endure in the worst seasons of their lives, surely He'll be with you to endure in this time.
I can do a kind thing for someone who's mistreated me because surely God will give me the same grace He gave a young Israelite girl who told Naaman, the man who made her a slave, of Elisha who through God could cure his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14).
2. God gave us stories of betrayal, despair, and "unforgivable" sins to show us how much He forgives.
Tamar committed adultery (Genesis 38:13-18). Rahab was a prostitute (Joshua 2). Naomi despaired of God's goodness, and let her grief turn to self-pity and bitterness (Ruth 1:19-20).
All of their sins are nothing worse than those we've committed.
We have fallen into doubt and despair that God actually had our best in mind.
We have put the things of this world above the things of God.
We have used deceit and manipulation to get what we want, believing the "ends justify the means."
All of these things are sins. And God is ready and willing to forgive us all of these sins.
The Bible doesn't say whether Tamar ever sought God's forgiveness for her sin, but we can know He would've forgiven her because He forgave David for adultery (2 Samuel 12:9-14).
Even though Naomi doubted God, He didn't abandon her, but worked out a way for her to be provided for (Ruth 4:14-16).
Rahab is listed in Hebrews 11:31, commended for her faith in hiding the spies in Jericho.
If God forgives such great wrongs, He'll forgive our sins, if we seek forgiveness.
We don't have to fear doing something that will put us past redemption. The Bible is filled with accounts of people who seemed beyond redemption.
But when they sought His forgiveness, He was quick to grant it. When we sin, God is quick to forgive us when we ask. No matter what you've done, if Jesus reigns as Lord in your heart, if you've sought His forgiveness, He has forgiven you.
Comparison brings us great comfort when we compare God's actions of the past with how He acts today.
When we feel overwhelmed, like we can't endure any longer, we can look to the Bible and realize that, if He provided for His people's needs (physical, mental, and spiritual) in the past, He provides now.
When we have sinned, and think that what we've done is unforgivable, we can look into the Bible and realize that, if He forgave the sins of those who lived before us, He's willing to forgive our sins now.
And that brings me comfort.
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