Apples and Oranges

Living Aligned With God’s Design

Apples and Oranges

John 21:18-22

Comparison brings confusion and chaos into my life!

• Dissatisfaction
• Bitterness
• Boastful Pride
• Isolation instead of community
• Hiding our uniqueness
• Missing God’s best

I Can Avoid the Comparison Trap By:

1. Recognizing God’s sovereignty in creating me.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13–16, ESV)

“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11, ESV)

God knew what He was doing when He made you you!

2. Accepting God’s grace extended to me.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8–10, ESV)

• Saving Grace
• Assignment Grace

“But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10a, ESV)

Reveling in God’s grace will free you from having to compare yourself with others.

3. Focusing on God’s race marked out for me.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2, ESV) 

“I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan.” Jackie Chan

The only person who can fulfill God’s Plan for your life is YOU!

4. Learning from others without replicating others.

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV 

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” (Philippians 3:17, ESV)

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,” (2 Timothy 1:6, ESV)

“Do not neglect the gift you have” (1 Timothy 4:14a, ESV)

5. Seeking to please God in all that I do.

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9, ESV)

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24, ESV)

You are the only one who can give God the gift of Your Best

“Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”  John Wooden

It is more important to be Your best than to be The best. 

"We won't be distracted by comparison if we're captivated with purpose.  We won't have time to measure ourselves against one another if we fill our time scheming ways to lift one another up." Bob Goff 

Comparison brings confusion and chaos into my life!

It is never too late to become the person God created you to be!

Making It Personal

• Have I genuinely aligned my life with God’s design through repenting of my sin and placing my faith in Christ alone as the forgiver of my sin and the leader and Lord of my life?
• How has comparison brought confusion and chaos into my life? Into the lives of others?  What can I learn about my own tendencies around the comparison trap?
• How can I practically implement the teachings above to proactively avoid falling into the comparison trap?
• Whatever my situation and circumstances are today, how can I please God in all that I do?
• Who can I share these truths with?