The Bible doesn’t explicitly say anything about comparing ourselves to others. However, there are a few things we can learn from Scripture about this topic. First, we should remember that we are all unique and different. God made each of us in His image, and He has a specific plan for each of us. We should not compare ourselves to others, because we will always come up short. Second, we should be careful not to let our comparisons lead to envy and bitterness.
When we focus on the things that others have that we don’t, it can be easy to become jealous and resentful. Instead, we should be happy for others when they succeed and rejoice in their blessings. Finally, we should remember that God is the only one who can judge us. We should not compare ourselves to others in a negative way because God will ultimately judge us based on our actions. We should concentrate on living a good life and let God decide who is the best.
Bible Verses About Comparing Ourselves to Others
The Bible has a lot to say about the comparison. Here are some of the most relevant Bible verses about comparing ourselves to others.
Proverbs 27:19 says, “As in water, face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” This verse is telling us that we tend to compare ourselves to others because we see ourselves in them. It’s human nature to want to know how we stack up against others, but we need to be careful not to get too caught up in comparisons.
1 Corinthians 10:12–13 says, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands to take heed lest he falls.” No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
These verses remind us that we are all susceptible to temptation and that we all have the potential to fall. We need to be careful not to compare ourselves to others and think that we are better or worse than them. We are all on the same level when it comes to temptation and sin.
Isaiah 40:18 says, “To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness can you compare with him?” This verse tells us that we will never fully comprehend or compare to God. He is so much greater than us that any comparison we make is going to fall short. We need to be careful not to put ourselves above God by comparing ourselves to others.
What the Bible Says About Comparing Ourselves to Others
The Bible has a lot to say about comparisons. In general, comparisons are not helpful and can even be harmful. The reason for this is that comparison usually involves comparing ourselves to others. And when we do that, we are either comparing ourselves to someone better than us, which can make us feel discouraged, or we are comparing ourselves to someone worse than us, which can make us feel proud and arrogant.
The Bible tells us that we should not compare ourselves to others. In 2 Corinthians 10:12, Paul says, “We do not compare ourselves to those who think they are something.” They measure themselves by their yardsticks and compare themselves to themselves. “This is not wise.” We should not compare ourselves to others because it is not wise. We will either end up feeling proud and arrogant if we compare ourselves to those who are worse than us, or we will end up feeling discouraged if we compare ourselves to those who are better than us.
The Bible also tells us that comparisons are not helpful because they usually involve envy. In James 4:5, we are told, “Do you think that the Scripture says without reason that the spirit that God has made to live in us envies intensely?” Envy is not a helpful or positive emotion. It is a negative emotion that only leads to harm.
So, what should we do if we find ourselves comparing ourselves to others? The Bible tells us to focus on our own lives and not compare ourselves to others. In Philippians 4:8, we are told, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” We should focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. We should think about these things and not compare ourselves to others.
Why we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others
The Bible has a lot to say about comparison, and for good reason. Comparison is the root of so much discontentment, jealousy, and strife. It’s what leads us to think less of ourselves and more of others. It’s what keeps us from being content with what we have and who we are.
And yet, we can’t seem to help ourselves. We compare our houses, our clothes, our cars, our jobs, our families, our bodies… The list goes on and on. We compare our bank accounts, our vacation days, and our waistlines. We compare our Facebook friends, our Twitter followers, and our Instagram likes.
In a world that is constantly bombarding us with images of what we “should” have, it’s no wonder we struggle with comparison. But the truth is, no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to keep up with the Joneses. There will always be someone who has more than us, who is thinner than us, who is smarter than us, or who is better than us.
So what does the Bible say about comparison?
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, by the faith God has distributed to each of you.” -Romans 12:3
“For we do not dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.” “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12
“Why, even among yourselves, do you not judge what is right?” Luke 12:57
These verses make it clear that we are not to compare ourselves to others. We are to think of ourselves with sober judgment. We are to judge what is right, not based on what others think or do, but on our standards and values.
When we compare ourselves to others, we are inevitably going to find someone better than us. And that can lead to feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and insecurity. But when we focus on living our own life
What God Says About Comparing Ourselves to Others
It’s so easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others.
We compare our looks, our possessions, our accomplishments, and even our relationships. And most of the time, we come up short.
It’s no wonder that the Bible has a lot to say about comparisons. Several verses specifically address the issue of comparing ourselves to others.
Here are seven Bible verses that will help you stop comparing yourself to others:
1. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, following the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3)
2. “For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.” “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12)
3. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but do not consider the plank in your eye?” (Matthew 7:3)
4. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
5. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
6. “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15–16)
Joseph Bates is a teacher at the University of Holy Cross. He has served on the staff of Northern Baptist and United Methodist churches in Tampa, Ohio, and Florida.
