【037】今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY：避免陷入与他人比较的陷阱 Avoid the Trap of Comparing Yourself to Others

《SCRIPTURE 经文》：使徒雅各劝勉信徒在得救成为新造的人之后该如何生活，尤其是在教会里服侍。他们必须避免陷入与他人比较的陷阱。他说：”你们心里若怀着苦毒的嫉妒和分争，就不可自夸，也不可说谎话抵挡真道。这样的智慧不是从上头来的，乃是属地的，属情欲的，属鬼魔的。在何处有嫉妒、分争，就在何处有扰乱和各样的坏事。惟独从上头来的智慧，先是清洁，後是和平，温良柔顺，满有怜悯，多结善果，没有偏见，没有假冒。并且使人和平的，是用和平所栽种的义果。” “The Apostle James exhorted believers on how to live after they are saved and become new creations, especially in serving in the church. They must avoid falling into the trap of comparing themselves with others. He said “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (雅各书 James 3:14-18)

【SHARING 分享】: “敢于梦想基督教中心 Dare to Dream Christian Centre” 的耶米·阿德奥蒂Rev. Yemi Adeoti 牧师曾经讲道说到： “我们有些人常犯的一个错误就是拿自己和别人比较！这是我们无论如何都要避免的！你不会因为比较而成为你自己，也不会因此而获得满足。你可以向别人学习，或受到他们的启发，但你永远不应该玩比较的游戏。如果你这样做，你会增加不快乐的可能性。所以，你必须不惜一切代价避免这种情况！事实上，我也发现有些人因为玩比较的游戏而嫉妒或羡慕别人。”

《今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY》分享的经文是雅各书 James 3:14-16。尤其是在最后三节经文中，使徒雅各劝诫我们信徒如何避免陷入比较的陷阱。他提醒我们，说：“因为在何处有嫉妒和结党，就在何处有扰乱和各样的恶行。惟从天上来的智慧，先是清洁，后是和平、温良、柔顺，满有怜悯，多结善果，没有偏见，没有假冒。使人和睦的，用和平栽种，必收义的果子。”

在《每日箴言 Daily Proverbs》的专栏里，一位牧师发表了一篇题为《与他人作比较》的讲道，引用哥林多后书 2 Corinthians 10:12，提醒信徒在服侍他人时，尤其是在教会里，不要拿自己与他人比较。这位牧师继续解释说，他年轻时经常陷入与他人比较的陷阱。他举了一个例子：有一次，他渴望在工作中升职，看到同事们似乎毫不费力就升职了，而他却在苦苦挣扎，感觉自己力不从心。他越是将自己的进步与同事们的进步进行比较，就越感到沮丧。他说，他记得自己曾许多个不眠之夜，担忧自己如何才能与他人匹敌，而不是专注于自身的成长和能力。

回首往事，他意识到那是多么有害。那夺走了他的喜乐，使他看不到神为他预备的独特恩赐和道路。正如哥林多后书 2 Corinthians 10 章所说，我们可以找到一些关于事奉主的有益建议，不要担心与他人比较，尤其是在那些自视甚高的人身上。如今，社交媒体常常不断诱惑我们与他人比较。我们总是看到别人成功和快乐的片段，却很少看到自己的挣扎和失败。重要的是要记住，我们的价值不在于我们如何与他人竞争，而在于我们在基督里的身份。

所以，在我们人生的道路上，让我们专注于个人成长和神为我们预备的独特道路。愿我们在神的计划中找到满足，并相信祂正引领我们走在当走的路上。求神赐给我们智慧，愿圣灵在我们心中动工，光照我们，引导我们的生命，使我们能行在神喜悦的义路上，作祂的器皿，彼此帮助，服事神，尤其是在教会里。 避免与他人比较的陷阱，而要专注于自己的旅程，庆祝其他弟兄姐妹的成就，并认识到自己的优势。专注于自己的进步，不与他人比较，我们就能提升自尊，找到真正的幸福，并在神的旨意中蒙悦纳。

为此，使徒保罗在腓立比书 Philippians 2:3 劝勉我们，让我们也效法他：“凡事不可结党，不可贪图虚浮的荣耀；只要存心谦卑，各人看别人比自己强。”

There is this Pastor Yemi Adeoti from “Dare to Dream Christian Centre“ once preached, "One thing some of us are guilty of is comparing yourself with others! This is something we should avoid at all costs! There is no how you will be you and also fulfilled by doing this. You can learn from others or be inspired by them but you should never play the comparison game. If you do so, you will increase your chances of unhappiness. So, you need to avoid this at all costs! In fact, I have also discovered that some people are jealous or envious because of playing the comparison game."

The verses shared by 《今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY》 are James 3:14-16. Especially in the last three verses, the Apostle James advises us believers on how to avoid the trap of comparing yourself to others. He reminded us and said, " For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."

In the column with Daily Proverbs, a pastor published a sermon with a similar title, "Comparison with others," quoting 2 Corinthians 10:12 to remind believers not to compare themselves with others when serving others, especially in the church. This pastor went on and explained, when he was younger, he often found myself falling into the trap of comparing himself to others. He illustrated with an example, and that one time he was eager to get a promotion at work. He watched his colleagues get it seemingly effortlessly while he struggled with feelings of inadequacy. The more he compared his progress to theirs, the more discouraged he became. He said he remembered spending many sleepless nights worrying about how he could measure up to others instead of focusing on his own growth and abilities.

Looking back, he realizes how detrimental that was. It robbed him of joy and blinded him to the unique gifts and path God had for him. As in 2 Corinthians 10, we will find some helpful advice on serving the Lord and not worrying about comparing ourselves to others, especially if those people have a high opinion of themselves. Today, social media is often a constant temptation to compare our lives to others. We are always shown snippets of others’ success and happiness, but rarely do we see our own struggles and failures. It is crucial to remember that our worth is not defined by how we compete with others, but by who we are in Christ.

Therefore, as we walk through life, let us focus on personal growth and the unique path God has for us. May we find contentment in God’s plan and trust that He is leading us where we should go. Pray that God provide us with His wisdom, and His Holy Spirit work in our hearts, illuminate us, guide our lives, and enable us to walk in the righteous path that pleases God as His vessels and be helpful to each other who serve God, especially in the church. Avoid the trap of comparing yourself to others, but focus on your own journey, celebrate other brothers and sisters’ achievements, and recognize your own strengths. By focusing on your progress and not comparing yourself to others, we can improve our self-esteem and find genuine happiness and please God in his will.

For this reason, the Apostle Paul exhorted us in Philippians 2:3, and let us follow his example: ” Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

【037】 Whisper Web transfers this sharing from Dr. John King 张皇卿博士 on “今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY” at 分享自脸书网站：www.facebook.com/johnking9999 和 and 维克斯网站：johnking9999.wixsite.com/website Edmonton, AB, Canada Friday 05 09. 2025.