“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”  

Romans 12:3-4, 9-10

The Measuring Stick That’s Never Enough

We all carry one. That 3 foot, 36 inch measuring stick. It’s a crutch for some. A weapon for others. And then for for others it’s a scepter by which they rule others by. It’s the most unbecoming accessory. With it come chains that hold us back, tie us down and leave us wounded and unusable for the Kingdom of God. We feel as if we will never measure up to others by it, and we feel as if we are above others because of it. This stick is a lie. It’s a stumbling block designed to trip us up. And the maker of this stick is comparison.

Comparison is a chosen tool of our Enemy. Our minds must always be aware that he seeks to steal, kill and destroy our lives (John 10:10). In the most unexpected places he is prowling around like a lion, seeking to make us ineffective for the kingdom of God. His tactics are sneaky and deceptive. If we are not alert, he will attack at any moment in our most vulnerable places.

This brings me back to that unbecoming measuring stick we carry. He hands it to us in moments of weakness. Often times in moments where God is teaching us His truths and what He has designed us to do. Instead of grasping the hand of our Creator who can do anything, we take hold of that stick and start measuring. When we measure, here’s what happens:

1. We become down on ourselves and feel defeated before ever beginning our God-given task. We think, how could I measure up to her? Isn’t she more qualified? What do I have to offer?
2. We become puffed up in our spirit thinking we are God’s answer to all the world’s problems. How could the church ever survive without me? I have more to offer than that person. I could do that better than they could.
3. We become envious, wanting to be like our neighbor while forgetting the precious way God purposely created you to be.  If only I were like her, I could do more for the Lord. (We mask our envy with God’s purposes.)

Paul warns us in Romans 12:3 not to think too highly of ourselves. He was noticing believers becoming puffed up and forgetting that they are all working as a body. Each member has a purpose; each member is significant to the body’s health and growth. One commentary described this verse in these words: “an inflated view of oneself is out of place in the Christian life.” But maybe you don’t think too highly of yourself. Maybe you think too low. Either direction our minds go, we are consumed with our image and how we measure up or down to others. This is the opposite of unity in Christ.

Paul was warning us of holding the measuring stick. He was warning against “Christian pride” that looks holy, but is actually worshipping self and not God. There is only one thing we should ever measure ourselves up to, and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The grace of God has set us free from never measuring up. Grace and Gospel free us from our measuring sticks. May we carry around a measure of grace and not comparison. 

What if we all broke our measuring sticks? What if we stopped measuring ourselves next to every other person around us and set our eyes completely on Jesus? I believe our lives would be radically different. I believe we would rejoice with one another, weep with one another, encourage one another and help one another, all for the sake of the Gospel.

Sisters, let’s break our sticks today. Let’s live in light of the Gospel, knowing that we are enough because of Jesus, for Jesus. I know I am a lot lighter when I don’t carry it around. This is what freedom is.

Breaking my stick with you,

Gretchen