Well, before you measure yourself against anything, or anyone, you must determine why it matters whether you measure up to that object. We often choose the strangest things to measure ourselves to. Our height, weight, looks, possessions, career, family, even the color of our hair.
The weirdness of it all is that we choose things that perhaps matters the least, and fail to select the things that matter the most.
Then, the challenge is to find the correct metrics to measure ourselves correctly. Think about the metrics that are unique to the country you are in, or where you came from. Equally, we struggle to make the conversion between this system, and that. Or, think about that sense of perfection that everything accepts, and consider how far you may be from “perfection”. It’s different everywhere you go.
Back in the day I wanted to be the best manager of technologist, so I hired the people who could do the job really well! This made my job easier, hence, I was a great manager!
Today. I want to be a great husband, father, pastor, sibling, friend, and Christian. This means I must choose someone to measure myself to, and hold myself accountable to the image I aim for.
Here’s My Thought Today
We fail to measure up so many times, especially when we struggle with finding success. Our commitment to the image often wavers as we fail to see immediate results. Chatting with a missionary friend I heard him say something that makes sense, and we know this to be true. Everything takes time! So, let’s give ourselves time to mature and become.
Jesus gave a framework that I wish more of us would consider. This would make a huge difference in how we view life.
“Stop judging so that you will not be judged. Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, ‘Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you have a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5 (GW)
When you act a certain way, then you will probably be treated the same way you treat others. Stop It! You can be better than that! In fact, we often act out by the examples we grew up with, or from someone who has shown us this is how we handle things.
Measure To His Standard
Here’s a key thought. Jesus is not surprised by how we act, and, he considers the sources of our input. He knows who we want to be like, and he knows how we will respond. In fact, he understands us better than we do ourselves!
Perhaps we would all be better if we lined up to his metrics. When he called the disciples to follow him, he became their teacher, mentor, and example. The word follow essentially means “come behind me, in my steps”. You can only do that when you keep an eye on your target.
We sing the old song, “To be like Jesus… to be like Jesus… On earth I long, to be like Him…” and if this is the truth, then we need to be walking in His steps.
That’s the standard. How do we measure up?
One Last Thought
Paul tells his protege in the very last letter he writes to him before his death.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Notice the focus is to be approved to God. Study to show yourself approved of God, a worker that is not ashamed of the work you do! Be accountable to the Word of Truth and use it properly!
This is our metric. We measure our success on how we apply the Word! From this foundation we keep moving to be more like Him. Read the remainder of Paul’s writing and you’ll find he is continually instructing Timothy on how he should, and should not, live.
“But shun profane, empty babblings, for they will go on to more ungodliness, and their word will have growth like gangrene, of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who missed the mark concerning the truth, saying the resurrection already has come, and overturn the faith of some. However, the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, “The Lord knew the ones being His;” also, Let everyone naming the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness. But in a great house not only are there vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Then if anyone purifies himself from these, he will be a vessel to honor, having been sanctified and made useful to the Master, having been prepared to every good work. But flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with the ones calling on the Lord out of a pure heart. But refuse the foolish and uninstructed questionings, knowing that they generate quarrels. But a slave of the Lord ought not to quarrel, but to be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness teaching those who have opposed, if perhaps God may give them repentance for a full knowledge of the truth, and they having regained senses out of the snare of the devil, being captured by him to do the will of that One.” 2 Timothy 2:16-26 (LITV)