Comparison: the way to envy, pride and immaturity

Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." [Jn 21:21,22]

Peter had only known and followed Jesus 3 years. He was like a little child. The other disciples were not much more mature. When he heard Jesus' words about his future, "you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish", his first thought was, "What about John!? Why should I suffer while he goes on happily forever?"

There is no way for a disciple to mature if he compares his life with some other Christian. He will be stunted, just as one who becomes proud is stunted, because he also compares himself with others. Pride is the response to thinking I am better than others. Peter's envy is the same godless emotion turned upside down. While they are opposites from each other, they are the same in their response to God. They are both spiritual pride, which inhibits maturity as slavery inhibits freedom.

I fear one of my dear friends has stumbled in this regard. He finds his ministry stifled and not up to the level of success he expected of himself, partly because he is a saintly genius, and then because he compares himself with others. It is terribly sad. But he must work this out. My mentor, OC, wrote regarding this passage,

One of our severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s order for others.

I do not dare interfere with this friend's struggle. He must stand or fall, and learn from Jesus on his own. My prayers for him are more potent for good. My advice would be ignored or taken as offense.

The same may be true for interfering in other people's ministries. Our entire church is learning this painful lesson, because many of us are possessed of a notion that we can "fix up" one another with our advice and manipulations and gossiping. Perhaps we can, in small ways. And we certainly shouldn't refuse to help or advise those who come to us. But meddling is the province of the unspiritual Christian. Like judging, which Jesus forbad, we learn to trust in God when we let HIM deal with HIS servants as HE sees fit. Jesus advised Peter to follow Him, and as to John, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You must follow me."

I submit that this kind of teaching argues for a less meddlesome community life, where the one who is spiritual will interfere and intervene much less with the workings of others. Alas, in America and in my own church, we have a much more superior view of man, who should control things centrally with his best wisdom, who must surveil and manage all the details from headquarters, and control all matters from Washington. Rather, let God be sovereign in others' lives, "What is that to you? You must follow me."

Lord, show us when to get involved, and when to simply follow you, and let others do the same. Give us courage to help those who would be helped, and trust to you the rest. IJNA