Work on You

We live in a society where competition is the norm and stepping on others to make yourself feel better and make it to the top is the rule of the day. They even have names for this; PHD (The Pull Him Down syndrome). We constantly feel the need to proof ourselves better than other people and when we are not we have to take them down just to feel better about ourselves. Someone’s tragedy or bad news is your time to shine; We rejoice over the pains and trying times of other people.

Could there really be true happiness in this? We were not born to thrive by pulling other people down. We were born people of love and compassion, we are made to be Christ Like. Our true identity has been swallowed by the dictation from the society that creates an illusion of perfection and excellence. Who were you before the world told you who you should be?

We miss the mark the moment we start to compare ourselves with other people. When you look at another person with envy and start desiring what they have, taking note of what they have that you don't. You begin to create false thoughts that they think of themselves highly and because you conceive it, its now alive to you; she is too high and she needs to be pulled down from her high horse. You then embark on a journey to prove they are nothing and that you can be better than them... no matter what it takes. You have opened a door to jealousy and you are blowing out that light of love in your heart. Proverbs 4:23 says keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. The jealousy that you have let in your heart now starts to dictate to your life, you are ruled by jealousy, the decisions you make are influenced by jealousy, your actions and your words are full of jealousy.

Galatians 6:1-5

6 ^1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. ^4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Galatians 6:1-5 reminds us that we are not prefect were never meant to be and we will never be. Perfection is not important, what’s important is working at yourself to be the best you, the person God created you to be. You have a better change at being the best you than being someone else. Know who you are and shun any hint of comparison that tries to arise itself in your heart. Murders are never set out to kill, the thought is nurtured up until it becomes action. Choke that thought of comparison by meditating on who God says you are in His Word. Explore His will for your life. Focus your energy and time on bettering you; let your biggest competition be you, work hard at improving and be better than the you from yesterday. Lets get back to the original plan of God concerning our lives. Who did HE make you to be? Ever looked at yourself in the mirror and failed to recognise the person you have become?

James 3:14-16 MSG

13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

I CAN ASSURE YOU God did not make you to be an envious, greedy, mean, non-forgiving, judging and jealous person. James 3 says that is devilish, demonic and its not from God. Those are evil spirits and habits we pick as we let our hearts wander about when we should be working on our callings and salvation. Know who you are in Christ and work at that!

Shalom