The Right Race

"Keeping Up With The Joneses" was a comic strip in the 1920s. America was dancing through an economic boom. The middle class was growing, and growing richer. No one wanted to be left behind, so it was easy to look at one's neighbor as the benchmark for success and social status, to buy what they bought, vacation where they did, and join the same clubs they joined. The Joneses were right across the backyard fence or right across the street, so it was easy to keep tabs on their successes.

Today's social media culture makes it even easier to keep track of not only the Joneses but the Kardashians and the Windsors, too. We don't even have to go in the backyard. Just open an app on your phone and you're bombarded with photos of happy people and trending hashtags and pithy tweets. Too often we feel our lives have been found wanting.

The origin of the common phrase "you have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting," is actually the Bible. Daniel 5 recounts how King Belshazzar throws a scrumptious party for his friends and writing appears miraculously on the wall (also the origin of "see the writing on the wall"). Daniel is called in to interpret the strange words and tells Belshazzar his kingdom will come to an end, for he has been found wanting.

But the Bible isn't telling Belshazzar his life is wanting compared to other kings of the age. He is only being compared to God's righteous standard.

So to say our own lives are found wanting is far from Biblical. Comparing ourselves to others is not only pointless, it's also destructive. It robs us of joy. It impedes our pursuit of God. It detracts from the message of grace and forgiveness we are sent out to share.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2: 20-23

Comparison is like running the wrong race. He gave you a purpose: to know God and make Him known. Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Maybe your race track has more twists and turns and roots to trip you up than the next person running. Don't compare your race track to theirs.

Run the race God has set before you, the right race, your race.