Comparativitus. It’s a made-up Latin word by my professor friend Dr. Larry Dixon. The word cannot be found in any dictionary, yet its truth is every leader’s battle with this complex. I wonder if comparing ourselves was among one of the first deadly sins. Didn’t Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob, Joseph and his brothers all wrestle with comparison’s grip?

I don’t know if comparing ourselves with others is a big sin or small sin. Is it a disease, disorder or addiction? All I know is that comparing myself with others has the ability to wear down my soul.

Comparing ourselves captures us in all kinds of snares.
I am better at_________ than _____ (name of person) is.
Why is ____________ so much more creative than me?
Why is my salary less than _____?
Why is ______’s ministry exploding in size while mine is dwindling?
Why do our students like ___________ more than me?

1. Why is comparing ourselves dangerous?
Comparativitus is insidious. The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “We do not dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

Comparativitus is unwise. It is a no-win proposition. Why?

Someone always will be better than us in some area of ministry, and there always will be somebody less effective. When we feel that we are better than someone else, we can lose our perspective on our humanity; when we feel less than or that we are worse than someone else, we can lose our momentum and creativity, becoming vulnerable to depression and anxiety.

2. Can comparing ourselves ever be helpful?
Yes, it can, especially when it is done with the right motivation. I look at my friend Julian and say, “I wish my devotional life was as rich as his,” then it could be a healthy motivator to sink my faith more deeply into God’s Word. If my goal is to become more godly and Christ-like, then measuring myself with someone else can be a good recipe for growth.

The more difficult question is to ask: Why do we compare ourselves with others? Is it human nature to compare? Is it normative to be competitive with others, even in Christian venues? Do we always need to win, to have the biggest group, the most evangelistic group, the best worship band?

Maybe the issue is painstakingly obvious: We are insecure human beings, and we don’t like the kinds of lives we are living, so we compare ourselves. If my motives are to brag, to be liked or to outperform someone, maybe I don’t enjoy living in my own skin.

In high school, we used to put down our peers so we felt lifted up and better about ourselves. In the end, it only came back to bite us. Bottom line: When I feel as if I must be better than another Christian or someone in ministry, I am revealing that my life is in desperate need of God’s grace.

If we need to hold up a mirror for healthy comparison, we should start with the Person of Jesus. Because there is no way I will be fully mature in all areas, it only makes sense to compare myself with the God who took on flesh and understands me totally.

As you look inside your heart, consider renewing your mind with these thoughts: “I am stamped with the image of God on my life. There is no one like me. God made me, and I am His. Today, I choose to stop trying to be someone else. I can be free to be myself. I can take off the mask and stop pretending I am somebody I want to be and can become the person Jesus has shaped and called me to be. I choose to let go of comparitivitus.”