Lighthouses Don't Compete

                  How many followers do you have on Twitter? How many retweets did your last post get? How many followers do you have on Pinterest? What about Instagram? How many likes did your last picture get? How many people subscribe to your blog?

We live in a world-an online world anyway-that judges by numbers and if we aren’t careful, sometimes that number mentality carries over into our church mentality. For example, rather than considering ourselves working as one we begin competing with one another. We compare ourselves to other local congregations. Then we start looking for ways to “top” them. And what about within our own local congregation? Do we find ourselves comparing our circumstances, material possessions and even our talents to our fellow brethren instead of rejoicing as well as hurting with them?

Too often I catch myself with a case of the-grass-is-greener-on-the-other-sideitis. This is a dangerous place to be and it can lead to equally treacherous ground when the tables seem to turn and we find ourselves in the pridelands (forgive The Lion King reference). You know, that point when you begin patting yourself on the back because of the talent or wit you shared and others felt it worthy of sharing as well (be it online, word-of-mouth, or otherwise). If you have any doubt that this attitude is the complete opposite of what Christ intended take a look at Ephesians 4. Verse 1 through 6 says,

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all

KJV

We are one in Christ. Christ commanded us to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. When we compete and compare, the Lord’s church dies. So how can we overcome those feelings of comparison and competition?

1.     Pray. Pray. And than pray some more. Pray for the strength to overcome those feelings.

2.     Count your blessings. It may sound cliché but remember that comparison is the thief of joy and in line with the-grass-is-always-greener syndrome, someone is probably wishing for the very blessings you enjoy.

3.     Encourage those who are doing good works. Looking for the good others are doing can encourage us to follow their example and place our focus where it should be-away from ourselves…which leads us to the last point…

4.     Focus on the good you can do for others Imitate the good example brothers and sisters set for you. Look to the example of Jesus and remember the words in Matthew 16:24,  “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” and on things above. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1)

Jesus told us we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, but how can we be the salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16) when we are busy comparing and competing with one another? I heard it best described this way…

“Lighthouses don’t compete.”