DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF

There’s an old story about a group of animals that

started a school with courses in swimming, running,

climbing, and flying. The squirrel wanted to swim like

a duck and almost drowned trying to learn. The duck

wanted to sprint like a rabbit, so he enrolled in

running. He kept tripping over his big webbed feet and

falling flat on his face.

The rabbit wanted to soar like an eagle, so he enrolled

in flying. He broke his leg when he jumped off the cliff

and fell on the rocks below. The eagle wanted to climb

trees like a squirrel, but kept falling backwards

because its wings couldn’t grab the tree. All the

animals got depressed because they couldn’t acquire

the coveted skills they each wanted. (Adapted

from The Animal School by George Reavis,1940.

Public Domain)

You’ll also probably get depressed if you’re

comparing yourself with those having exceptional

talent. God called me to teach the Bible, but I’d also

like to sing. I’d love to perform at concerts where

people pay hundreds of dollars just to hear me sing.

But that won’t happen because I have a terrible

singing voice and nothing will ever change that.

If you compare yourself with others, you’ll either

become proud or discouraged, and neither attitude

comes from God. You’ll be proud if you think you’re

better, and discouraged if you think you’re inferior.

You might even blame God for your lack of skills: “The

thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you

make me like this?’” (Rom. 9:20).

Face the facts. You’ll probably never win a gold medal

at the Olympics. If you’re a duck, you’ll never outrun a

rabbit. If you’re a squirrel, don’t try swimming the

English Channel. But if you’re a duck, you can swim

really well, so swim for the glory of God.

Don’t complain about abilities you don’t have. Instead,

use whatever abilities the Lord gave you to be

pleasing to Him and “serve the Lord with gladness”

(Ps. 100:2).