"I'm Better Than You!"

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

~Matthew 6:5-6

I admit it, I have never been what one might consider "a stand out".  I wasn't an exceptional athlete.  In fact, I have the distinction of being so "graceful" that I actually fell up a tree from across the yard (the insurance representative had to have it explained numerous times).  I tried and wanted so much to be the best at something, yet every time there was always someone better.   

You see, I had become entangled in the game of "Measuring Up" whereby I would compare myself to others and when someone was better than me at something, I would be discouraged, frustrated, and didn't want to do that activity anymore.  

We compare ourselves to other all the time, don't we?  

"Am I best looking one here?" 

"Do my clothes look the best?"  

"Am I driving the nicest car?"  

"Is my job the most impressive?"

"Do I have enough degrees from the right colleges?"

"Do I have the best resume?"

All the superficial things that don't really matter!  We become like the hypocrites Jesus told us NOT to become.  We want people to look at us, hear us, envy us!  And we get annoyed if that doesn't happen.  Because, after all, what others think is most important.....right?  I'm not talking about the occasional recognition.  That keeps us motivated to push on to do better.  I'm talking about those who strive so hard to be publicly known and envied. Look at what Jesus says about such people, "That is ALL the reward they will ever get." Their brief time in the spotlight is all the reward they will ever get.

Here's a Point To Ponder: God loves you!  He loves the you that He created!  You cannot earn anymore of His love my being in the spotlight.  All of our trophies, certificates, degrees, and awards will not cause God to love us even the slightest bit more. You cannot lost any of His love when the spotlight is off you. If you fail at every single thing you ever attempt, God still loves you enough to have sent Jesus to die in your place.  

Jesus didn't call us to be a superstar...He called us to be servants!

 In God's family, all of His children are His favorites!