“Overcoming the Comparison Trap As A TIPS Leader”

In any ministry development, we must continue to focus on 3 areas: (stepping on the pedal!) G ifts (of the TIPS leader) A ttitudes (of the TIPS leader) S kills (of the TIPS leader)

2 Corinthians 10:12, LB “The trouble with some men is that they are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves against their own little ideas. What stupidity!”

Comparisons in the Ministry God says its stupid Causes unnecessary stress & spiritual blockages It is wrong to compare buildings, budgets, salary, attendance and other statistics!

2 Things We Want To Do I. Take an honest, personal quiz II. Look at how God says to get out of the comparison trap

I. How Do I Measure Up In Overcoming The Comparison Trap?

A. Abilities - Do I ever feel jealous around people who are more talented than I? Leading a TIPS Team Organizing a TIPS church Connecting / marketing Appearance

Do you ever feel like you’ve been cheated Do you ever feel like you’ve been cheated? Ever feel that when God passed out the abilities, that He passed you by a little bit? That’s the trap of comparison.

There will always be peers that you and I have in the church who are more talented or less talented than we are!

Continued comparison of our abilities will always lead us to jealousy, and jealousy can poison your life! Comparing your abilities & talents causes jealousy.

1 Samuel 18:5-12 “The women came out to meet Saul with singing…”Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands. Saul was very angry, this refrain galled him…from that time on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David...”

The spirit of jealousy ruined Saul’s whole family and whole kingdom. Guard against the trap of comparing your abilities!

B. Possessions - Do I secretly envy my peers who have more or who make more than I do?

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!’”

Have you noticed that some pastors can work less than you do and still make more money? AND there are a huge number of pastors in our world, that you have MUCH, MUCH more than they do.

God says it is a trap to compare our possessions! Comparing your possessions causes envy.

C. Problems - Do I ever think or use the phrase, “But its just not fair?”

It’s Not Fair……. My lack of money with your supply of money My lack of workers with your pool of workers My challenging people with your gifted people My trials with your lack of trials My problems with your lack of problems

Why am I always the one with people trouble? “Ever feel or think?...But its just not fair!” Why am I always sick? Why am I always the one with people trouble? What did I do to deserve this? This is the trap of comparing your problems!

Comparing and complaining almost always go hand in hand. David (a man after God’s own heart) was very good at times, grumbling and complaining to God. (Read Psalm 73)

The consequence of comparing our problems…it leads us into a pity party. Comparing your problems causes self-pity and resentment.

D. Achievements - Do I allow other people to determine the goals for my life?

Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Some pastors feel an unspoken pressure to beat the other guy down the road… You and I just can’t be the best at every single thing we do. We must strive for balance, growth and the goal of being spiritually mature!

God says it is a trap to compare our achievements! Comparing your achievements causes pressure.

II. The 4-Step Antidote to the Trap of Comparison

A. Realize that God made you unique. “You created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13-14)

B. Make your own declaration of independence. “Don’t conform yourself any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

1. A comparison is always a control. 2. Comparisons almost always lead to conformity.

C. Don’t force others into a comparison either. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Luke 6:31) It creates stress, inferiority and insecurity.

D. Evaluate yourself by God’s standard, not other people. “If anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:3)

“Each one of us should test his own actions “Each one of us should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.” (Galatians 6:4)

Success in TIPS ministry is not a matter of being superior or inferior…Instead, it is simply becoming the best of exactly what God wants YOU to be!

III. The Two Gifts I’d Give Everyone In TIPS Ministry If I Could!

A. The Gift of Self-Awareness. “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.“ (Proverbs 12:1ff)

B. The Gift of Self-Acceptance. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.“ (Romans 15:7)