The Comparison Game

My name is Steve and I am not as good looking as this guy

or as famous as this guy (He doesn't even need a last name, anywhere in the world)

or as rich as this guy

or as powerful as this guy (wouldn't want his job)

or as good a writer as this guy (although I dream of writing books)

and I don't have a huge church like this guy (when you're a preacher that is the picture of success held up for you professionally)

nor am I a musician and activist like this guy (but I sure would love to be musically talented)

and I'm not as athletic as this guy (actually my knees & back hurt & I could stand to lose 25lbs)

As much as I might like to be anyone of those guys, the fact is that I am not. Actually, none of that matters. Who I am in comparison to others is totally unimportant.

What does matter is who I am in the eyes of God. His forgiven and loved child.
The other thing that matters is if I am living a life of faithfulness and obedience.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. . . . He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. . . .

To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. . . . To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— . . . . He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. . . . Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. . . . To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

(Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21)

Success is measured against only 1 standard. God not men. And God's standard for success is Faithfulness. The overcomer is not the one who conquers all or who does the most. The overcomer is the one who remains faithful to the end.