Back to ChristianBibleStudies.com1000+ Studies A Ministry of Leadership
Subscribe to Leadership journal

 

Home  |  Store  |  Contact Us
Search


Bible Studies
Articles & Extras
Who Are We?
Customer Support
Find Out Here
Compare
Reprint Information
Guidelines for Writers

Browse
New
Free Samples
Top Sellers
Multi-Session Studies
Single-Session Studies
Spiritual Formation e-Booklets
Christianity Today Studies

Questions from Bible Readers

Featured Articles

Quizzes

Top 10 Articles



Small GroupsKyriamore sites

Home > Christian Bible Studies > Questions From Bible Readers > Friendship

Sign up for our free newsletter (All fields required.):

     


How can I keep from comparing myself with my friends?
Realize you don't know others the way God knows them.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 | posted 1/30/2009




As you look around at your group of friends, you may notice one has a great body or personality, another has a great job, still another has a great family. One may be categorized by others as a "winner" and another as a "loser."

But society's standards are confusing. The "best" person is the one who makes the most, who has a spouse who treats her like a queen, or whose kids are on the honor roll. Today's culture does not value what's most important: the quiet simplicity of knowing God, and the strength and peace such a relationship gives us.

Imagine the surprise of David's family when Samuel wanted to see the runt who had been out in the fields singing to himself (we now call these songs psalms). Who, him? Apparently, no one would have guessed David was a candidate because they didn't even bring him in to meet Samuel.

Outwardly, David may have seemed like an unlikely choice, but God saw much deeper than David's relatives and friends could. It's impossible to read someone else's motives-to know his pain or imagine his dreams. There is so much you don't know about others-or God's plans for them-that it makes no sense to compare yourself to them. Instead, focus on purifying your own motives and giving God your dreams. Then who knows what glorious things God may bring into your life! (See also Numbers 6:22-27; Mark 10:29-31, 35-45.)


Good Words to Remember:

The LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7


Today's Challenge:

Am I open to receiving God's plan for my life?






share this pageshare this page












Free Newsletters
Sign up for our newsletters:
Christian Bible Studies
(weekly)  
Small Groups
(weekly)  
Building Church Leaders
(weekly)  



ChristianityToday.com
Christianity Today International
www.ChristianityToday.com
Copyright © Christianity Today International
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us | Advertise with Us | Job Openings