John 3:22-30
Possibly the reader can see that landing on Boardwalk would earn the owner $400, but a short stay on Mediterranean around the corner would only earn the owner $60. This American board game is a competition to see who can get the most property and the most money.
In the real world wealth, mental skill and quickness, health, blessing and giftedness are not equally distributed to everyone. Life is not even; not fair.
It did not seem fair to the disciples of John the Baptist when people they were serving and baptizing left them and started following Jesus Christ.
An argument between John’s disciples and a Jewish man about ceremonial washing—seen as somewhat parallel to baptism—morphed into a discussion of between John’s disciples and John. The issue was, “Why are these people leaving us and following Jesus Christ?
We know that this is the correct perspective on John 3:22-30 because of what John said to defend those departing. John’s disciples were defensive for him, wanting his star to continue to rise.
John would have none of it. Though his followers were well intended, wanting him to be acknowledged, John clearly pointed all people away from himself and toward the Lord Jesus Christ. John spoke his famous line, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
He refused to compete. He would not frame the situation as a competition, his fallback argument being the sovereignty of God. “A man can receive only what is given him from Heaven” (v. 27).
What we have and what we are is from God. “ . . . God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them just as He wanted them to be” (I Corinthians 12:18).
That means that someone’s nearsightedness is from God. Someone’s height or shortness is from God. Someone’s freckles are from God. Mental quickness, athletic ability, brains, good / bad looks, understanding, opportunities and circumstances are all from God.
To some degree, we see that God balances out His graces. Some are razor-sharp smart, but they had a negative childhood with which they continue to struggle. Some had wonderful parents, but they can look at food and gain weight. Some were born into money but have no friends; others are poor financially but have richly nourishing, life-long relationships. “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, He opened her womb” (Genesis 29:31). Meanwhile, Rachel was drop dead gorgeous and loved by Jacob, but desperate to have children (Genesis 30:1).
Other people seem to have and be everything. We know a woman—about 60 years of age—who weighs about 127 pounds, is attractive (pretty face), smart, has great children, leads just about everything in women’s ministries in her church, is always dressed immaculately and happily married to a brilliant man. She asks people to pray that she would be humble. The point being that sometimes there does not seem to be any balancing of hardship or stress points.
Too often differences result in resentment, comparing and competing. Blessed is the person who refuses to compare or compete up (meaning those who have or are more).
On what basis can we refuse to compare or compete? How can we avoid resent-ment when others around us seem to have and be so much more than we are?
The answer is found in the faith that accepts God’s sovereign choices. A sweet woman in Cuba, Yida, had a bump on her forehead. Peace came as Yida stopped comparing and competing with non-bump women, accepting that God allowed her this disfigurement. A couple had no biological children but adopted two Korean children—we have never heard them speak about this highly personal matter, much less speak disparagingly of their inability to have their own biological children. Their silence on this subject confirms they are refusing to compete or compare or feel slighted or cheated. Never.
How do we defeat compare and compete?
First, faith must rise to answer what sin would want to do to us. Faith that God is at work. Faith that God knows best; knows how to distribute His graces. Faith that He loves us and is working for our over-all wellbeing.
Second, upgrade what you have / are. Compare down. Are you a Christian, redeemed from Hell? Value that highly. Rejoice in that. Can you see? To a blind person that sounds like you are indescribably rich. Can you read and write? Most of the people who have ever lived the planet never have. Do you enjoy a measure of health? In contrast to someone who hurts constantly that sounds better than winning the lottery. Are you content—weigh that against those who are nervous, fearful, anxious and have not had a full night’s sleep in months.
How could Rachel be content without having children? By rejoicing that she was beautiful and loved by her husband. How could Leah have refused to compare and compete? By upgrading her status as a mother of many sons and at least one daughter.
Let’s upgrade what we are and what we have. It will enable us to cease competing and comparing and assist us to praise the living God.
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