Comparing Ourselves to Others
We are to measure ourselves by God's righteousness alone, and not by anyone else's supposed righteousness, for we have been imputed with the full measure of the perfect righteousness of Christ.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the futility of comparing ourselves to others in our spiritual journey, revealing that true righteousness comes only from Jesus Christ. He reflects on his past struggles with feelings of inadequacy when measuring himself against seemingly holy individuals, only to realize that appearances can be deceiving. Wilkerson asserts that all believers receive Christ's righteousness in its fullness by faith, and that we should not gauge our worth by others but by the perfect standard of Christ. He encourages the congregation to embrace their identity in Christ, reminding them that they are accepted and made righteous through Him, regardless of their current struggles. Ultimately, the call is to focus on the unity of faith and the knowledge of Christ rather than on comparisons with others.
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In my younger years, I compared myself to certain others who appeared to be holy. These people seemed to be aglow -- always upbeat, smiling, seeming much more Christlike than I. I never thought I measured up to their holiness, so I prayed, "Lord, make me righteous like Brother So-and-so. How wonderful it must be to live that way for You."
How wrong I was! These people were not who I thought they were. Indeed, I have learned that nothing is as it appears; no one is quite as evil or quite as good as he may seem. Rather, there is only One who is truly righteous -- Jesus Christ our Lord -- and His righteousness is perfect.
If we are in Christ, we have His righteousness and it is not attributed to us by degrees. No one receives more or less of it -- rather, by faith we receive it in its fullness.
We are to measure ourselves by His righteousness alone and not by anyone else's supposed righteousness. "But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. . . . According to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you" (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).
Paul is saying here, "There's a rule you can use to measure yourself. It is this: Everyone who truly repents and believes in the perfect righteousness of Christ -- who comes to Him in faith, believing in His work on the cross -- is made perfectly righteous in the sight of God. You may not have everything worked out yet. There is still a daily work of sanctification through the power of the Holy Spirit. But you are accepted in the beloved, imputed with the very righteousness of Christ."
Dearly beloved, it is time you stopped putting yourself either up or down as measured against others. God has imputed to you the full measure of the perfect righteousness of Christ: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Comparing Ourselves to Others
- The True Source of Righteousness
- Measuring Ourselves by God's Standard
- We are to measure ourselves by God's righteousness alone
- The rule for measuring ourselves is found in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13
Key Quotes
“Nothing is as it appears; no one is quite as evil or quite as good as he may seem.” — David Wilkerson
“If we are in Christ, we have His righteousness and it is not attributed to us by degrees.” — David Wilkerson
“There's a rule you can use to measure yourself. It is this: Everyone who truly repents and believes in the perfect righteousness of Christ -- who comes to Him in faith, believing in His work on the cross -- is made perfectly righteous in the sight of God.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your relationship with God.
- Recognize that you have been imputed with the full measure of the perfect righteousness of Christ, and live accordingly.
- Use the rule found in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13 to measure yourself, and not by anyone else's standards.