EVIL COMPARISON

2 Corinthians 10:12  - For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Just last night, I was watching a television programme where two sets of school children were made to play two different video games. One set played a non -violent video game while another set played a violent video game. These two groups were being studied side by side to ascertain the effects of the video games on them. This experiment was full of positive comparison and analysis. It came up in the end that those that played a non violent video game were more susceptible to help others and be empathetic. Whilst those that played a violent game were less susceptible to help others and be empathetic.

The above kind of comparison was for a good cause to help parents et cetera to evaluate the effects of video games on their children. By objectively studying these two groups and framing the individuals up in a scenario where they were expected to help another, it was possible to deduce that violent video games have a negative effect on children, whereas non violent games produced positive tendencies. Overall, this comparison added  positively to one's knowledge of video games and their impact on children.

However, there is another kind of comparison that is evil and drains away our self esteem. This evil comparison is the kind that causes people to steal and rob just to be as rich as others and to possess the things that others have. This evil comparison can propel one to hate oneself and always wish to be like another. It can drive people to starve themselves in order to be model -like as some celebrities, and in the worse become anorectic.

With this kind of comparison there is no objective analysis of facts, no evaluation , no researched conclusion, only wild assumptions and embellished conclusions. This form of evil comparison will not try to first find out the body mass index of an individual, but will blindly want to reach that individual's body weight. In the end, jeopardizing their own life through anorexia. With this kind of comparison, one's strengths are not put alongside another's, nor weaknesses put alongside weaknesses. This kind of comparison does not add to one's knowledge but rather adds frustration to one's life. It is a comparison that highlights weaknesses and dims strengths. In life, everyone has strengths and weaknesses, we must learn to make the most of our strengths and learn to work on our weaknesses.

“If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself”  

Max Ehrman

In life, everyone has strengths and weaknesses, we must learn to make the most of our strengths and learn to work on our weakness. As Lao Tzu wrote : ''When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.'' Nido Qubein also said - "Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers compare their achievements with those of another people.'' In other words, it is not a bad thing altogether to evaluate where you are as against where you are going, but by simply comparing where you are to where others are, is a mark of a loser.

You are a unique individual with an exclusive finger print. There is no one else like you. Do not attempt to be somebody else, or strive in vain to be like another, or compete at all cost to be at par with someone else. Take each day to enjoy being you, and work at making you a better person without pushing down or hurting others. I will leave you with this as food for thought - '' Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you."

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Written By Gina Bello and posted on