Day 15 - Comparisons

You may have been taught that to compare yourself to others is the work of the devil. It lacks proper humility and produces unhealthy pride in the soul. But comparing is not to be ignored altogether - when it is it can form a shell of self-contentment which can cocoon the soul in a self satisfied pride of its own making.

Such an insensibility is a bad symptom. For one thing, it implies that we have little or no spiritual ambition, or we should not be satisfied with leading such poor lives as we do; that we cannot have really thought out the reality of Jesus Christ, and how immeasurably He has raised the standard for human existence.

Imagine for a moment that your hobby is painting, in water colours or in oils. You have been enjoying the art for most of your life and regularly produce work which attracts the envy and praise of your fellows. Would you be prepared to hang your wretched daubing in the same gallery room alongside the works of Michelangelo and Titian? Would you be unashamed by the enormous contrast between their work and yours; would you stand back and say, with a satisfied smirk,

"That is pretty good, you know!"

And can you live face to face with Jesus Christ, and be content with what you are?