The Mystery of Comparison

In recent times, comparison has been viewed in a negative light. Comparison has been seen as a root cause of many negative emotions like jealousy, hatred among brothers, anxiety, and the likes. This has tarnished such a powerful telescope that our brain uses most times without our awareness. The question is not to avoid comparison. The question is, how can we harness Comparison? That is the mystery.

Comparison: Sense of Scale

Our intellectual understanding is fundamentally based on Comparison. If someone explains a concept you haven’t experienced or heard of, the person ought to use a simile or metaphor. Such figures of speech require comparing what is unknown to a similarly known phenomenon. In neuroplasticity, the brain enforces already-built neural pathways. Thus, learning the unknown by comparing it to the known enlightens the mind and strengthens the pathways. It’s like going to the village and talking about skyscrapers. Since they can’t relate, comparing it to an anthill by calling it an anthill but for humans make it relatable.

Comparison basically gives us a sense of scale. Is it big? Or too long? Is it tiring? Is it interesting? How do you know? Truth be told, the foundation of value is comparison. Comparison is the true denominator of essence. For something to lose its relevance, gain momentum, gain ground, or even shift suddenly; for us to perceive it is based on comparison. Without comparison, not only will our understanding be fragmented, but our perception will be null. Comparison is such a mystery.

One mystery to note is that regardless of what is being compared, there is a yardstick. Comparison is not the difference between two things on a scale. No! In fact, the scale is more important than what is being compared. This is where we get it wrong. We think the comparison is a negative thing when it was rather the scale we used in the comparison. If comparison was wrong, why was Jesus compared to the angels, Moses and Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews?

The sad thing is, we condemn comparison in theory and still compare in practice. We compare one child to another; one relationship to another, one parent to another, one job to another, one area to another. Comparison is a mystery we cannot avoid. The earlier we understand and wield it to our advantage, the better. A false scale is abominable unto the Lord. No scale at all is not a possibility.

Comparison: Standard of Judgment

The scale of comparison is called the yardstick or, even better, the standard. The standard is a means of judgement. Yes, the mystery of judgment is embedded in the mystery of comparison. Even God has a standard. His standard is His glory. That is what we all fell short of, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How will God judge us? Do you think God will judge us equally? Not at all! He will judge us fairly. There’s a difference. It is important to know God judges you so you’ll know how to judge yourself.

1. The reason why God will need to judge us individually is because no scale exists to correctly compare one person to the other. If you’ve read up to this point and you think what I mean by writing all this is that we have to compare ourselves to others, you still don’t understand the mystery of comparison. Even God will not judge us based on others’ criteria or standards. Get this; He will judge us according to our abilities. Remember the parable of the talents? He gave one 5, the other 2 and another, 1. It’s not fair? What was the scale of measure? Why didn’t He just give everyone 3 each? Because he gave “each according to his ability”.

2. God will judge us according to His glorious standard. The only person who met this standard is Jesus. By accepting his sacrifice, we meet the standard of God. God’s standard is so high that there’s nothing we can do to measure up. Note that God didn’t lower His standard to accommodate us. He maintains His standard and continually raises us to His standard, not just in this lifetime but throughout eternity. That is another mystery for another time. This comparison to His glorious standard is a judgment for the attainment of His eternal rest; salvation. However, there’s another scale of measure.

3. God will judge us according to our measure. This comparison to our measure is a judgment of the attainment of the rewards for spiritual growth. He is bringing His reward to pay each man according to their deeds, Revelations 22:12 says. Matthew 7:2 explains it better; the standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Back to the parable of the talents. God gave one man 5, not because He had only 5 to give. He has infinity. He gave the man only 5 because that is the man’s capacity to receive. How is going to judge that man? Is he expecting infinity from him? He’s judging the man based on the standard the man set for himself based on his capacity.

Based on all this, how then do you measure yourself? What should we compare ourselves to? I know all this is very loaded and will take meditation to understand. Measure yourself based on what God has given you to steward in any particular season of your life. This is the most accurate determiner of your measure because God will never give you more than you can handle. He doesn’t waste resources. He will also never give you any less than you can handle because He desires that you keep on increasing your capacity. Even His rewards are according to our measure.

Selah!