Tags
CHRISTIANITY, FAITH, GUILT, HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS, Martin Luther
Oh yeah…..Just another GC….email devotion sent to me the day after this post…
The Truth About Guilt and Comparison
By Doug Fields
Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
Galatians 6:4
Most Christians claim to want to connect with God regularly—or at least they want the benefits of the richer life that result from consistent connections. But when it comes to turning desire into discipline, most don’t. Failure gives birth to guilt.
The guilt can be crushing. Wonderful people limp through the Christian life marred by it. It’s guilt, guilt, guilt 24/7—I don’t pray enough. I’m not reading the Bible like I should. I haven’t witnessed to my neighbor. I don’t spend enough time with God…Guilty.
If guilt defines you, I’m so sorry. I pray that you’ll come to see that you’re not a “lousy Christian” if you don’t have a traditional quiet time. The Christian life is not about locks and chains. Jesus Christ came to set us free. Yes, some guilt may serve as God’s motivator, but too many Christians cower because of false guilt—aka condemnation—that they’ve heaped upon their own shoulders because they’ve compared themselves to an unrealistic model and come up short. That type of guilt is wrong and unfair, and it will weigh you down and wear you out.
Comparison is deadly, yet so natural. It’s easy to place ourselves next to someone we think has it together spiritually, constantly taking mental notes on how we don’t measure up. Yet, comparison only assumes that others are doing what we’re not, and so we end up contrasting what we know about ourselves (everything) with what we don’t really know about others (which is almost everything). Again, not fair.
Then, to make maters worse, we hear stories about people such as Martin Luther, who awoke each day at 4:00 a.m. and spent hours with God. “I have so much to do today that I should spend the first three hours in prayer,” he said. Now, that really piles on the guilt. I’m really happy for Martin Luther that he was able to pull that off. But, as for me, I’m not a morning person. I didn’t even know there was a 4:00 a.m. until I read his quote in seminary.
For me, I’d much rather hear something about how his early-morning prayer sessions made him extremely grumpy in the afternoons because of his lack of sleep. That would be something I could really relate to!
Here’s my encouragement: Please stop comparing. You aren’t Martin Luther. Neither am I. You’re you! God designed you to be you in your faith too. I’m not suggesting you can’t have an intimacy with God similar to that of other heroes of our faith; of course you can. But I’m asking you to quit comparing, and instead, be challenged to learn how to connect with God in realistic ways that fit with how you’re wired. You can do this! I know you can.
GodGirl said:
So true! Comparison is suffocating. Good point about understanding our wiring and seeking to connect with God in a style that suits us.
Chrystal said:
“Comparison is suffocating.” How descriptive…and true. Thanks for stopping by.
kingintraining said:
LOL I love this – ” I didn’t even know there was a 4:00 a.m. until I read his quote in seminary: haha!
I agree with you on not comparing, but I often wonder about people like Martin who do the 4am stint. I cant help but wonder if he could do it, why cant I? *sigh*
I often fall victim to comparing how “useless” I am. Never does any good whatsoever
Chrystal said:
Oh, he probably didn’t have kids, household chores, etc. 🙂
kingintraining said:
Haha oh YES! Thats the clue lol!
k at Healthy Living 4 Him said:
Amen!! 🙂
greekgoddesscindy said:
“Failure gives birth to guilt.”, wow that part got me. I often do feel guilty of failing at not reading the Bible enough, not spending enough time in prayer, or with God. I know I have to stop feeling guilty and helpless, and sometimes, just down; when I dont do these things. And comparison, I have that bad sometimes. Im guilty of feeling bad when I see someone with something I want, and say to myself, ‘wow God really blessed them, what about me? When’s my turn? Why wont God do anythig like that for me?’ All that, I know I have to get over it. I cant even remeber how I stumbled to your blog, but thank God I did. It’s a wake up call for me to get up and stop being so down. He didnt call us for us to hang our heads low.
Chrystal said:
greekgoddesscindy, I’m so sorry that I just now saw your comment. I haven’t spent any time on my blog in ages! God seems to have focused me in a more private mode of journaling for the last year or so. DEEP STUFF. Waiting to see if He wants me back in the blogging area….thanks for your comment, and I pray that He has encouraged you about this area. There is no condemnation in Christ. THAT has been quite a theme for me lately. God bless you!