Uniquely You
"Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." (Gal 6:4, NLT)
Sometimes in a weak moment of the flesh, I would find myself comparing myself to others. Perhaps I would notice how much better someone else was at a particular task, or I would wish that I had their specific creative talent.
What I have learnt over the years of being part of a team working together in ministry, is that we will always be able to find someone out there who seems to be able to do a better job of something than we can. However, every one of us is different, with a unique mix of spiritual gifts and natural talents. When we work together, we complement one another with our strengths, and we undergirth each other’s weaknesses.
You may have heard the tongue-in-cheek adage, “You are unique, just like everyone else”. God custom-built every one of us when we were knitted in the womb, knowing full well the purpose and destiny God carefully had crafted out for us. There is no other “you” or “me” on this planet, even if you have an identical twin, and even if someone has the same name as you do.
The Apostle Paul said that it is foolish for us to compare ourselves with one another:
“Oh, don't worry; I wouldn't dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves by themselves. What foolishness!” (2Co 10:12, NLT)
Paul, in his wisdom, clearly understood the folly in self-comparison. It is actually a form of pride, since it takes our focus away from Jesus, as we fixate on and hover the spotlight over ourselves!
When we come to a point of accepting who we are, and we learn to become comfortable in our own skin, then God is really able to use us for God’s glory! This is when we start to cultivate our special “cocktail” of gifts and abilities, with the help of others alongside us, as we grow in character and love. We begin to shine, reflecting God’s image in our lives, each with our unique fingerprint, and we become more effective in our service to the Lord and to the body of Christ.
Blessings,