For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. Galatians 6:3-4

All must test their work and in doing so they will be pleased with what they have done.  We live in a society where there is constant comparison, and constant competition.  It is always who is better than who. 

Everybody cant win! Why? It is complicated.

This I believe is driven by two main things. A general belief that there isn’t enough of anything for us to benefit – the economics of scarce benefits and secondly  the fact that we fail to realize we are individuals, each with own abilities and what we are good at, the skill we have is not always the skill needed to fix the problem. So at various times varying skills are needed. Most times we do not excel at thing. We each have different gifts which we are called to hone and share.  One day your gift will be the one required. Remember David and his bag of stones and catapult. Who would have thought that a gift like that would have save the nation.

My gift may not be yours.  But whatever my gift is, I must be my best at it and use it for the good of the whole community. Whatever the task is that I have been given I must do it to the best of my ability

Paul says we are only special in our own eyes.  This is not necessarily true, because others who lack the gift or skills we have, will think us special too. But the bigger point is that we do not need to compare ourselves to others. Each of has value. Each of us bring special skills that are required at one time or another.  Look at cooking! Some of us are unable to fry fish, without burning it or breaking it up. But that same person, may not be able to make a nice cake and still the one who makes the cake may not be able to do fancy decorations on top.   We all have our own unique way which when we compare ourselves to others, it makes us miserable, because there will always be some things that others are better at than us.

We live in a world with a hierarchical structure.  Take a school for instance – 1 principal, but 2 vice principals and 5 senior teachers, and 40 teachers.  This is so in many organizations.  This sometimes give the impression that those at the bottom are there because they are unable to carry out any of the higher level other jobs well. Many times for ease of operations we divide up the jobs so that all the objectives can be accomplished.  All of us within that school or organization contribute to the accomplishment of its goals. 

There is a common thinking that for me to survive you cannot.  One must always be showing up or pointing out another person’s deficiency so their achievements can be seen.  Using the Amplified Bible translation of Galatians 6:4, Paul says “But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another.”  

We are called to focus on doing the best we can with the resources we have. When we do, we are pleased, as we did our best and that is all that is being asked for.  The satisfaction with which we work will spill over and others will notice. We are able to be our own best person as: the strength of God pilots us. For the power of God preserves us. The wisdom of God instructs us.  The hand of God protects us. For The way of God directs us. The shield of God will defend us. The host of God will guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world. Where God is, all is well. All will be well, all manner of things will be well.