I’ve been
spending lots of time online, in ads for vans, on car lots, making phone calls,
researching, and doing everything I can to quickly find a good used car in our
limited price range- with the help of a friend.
Recently we looked at four more- all 2005 Dodge Grand Caravans yet they
were very different. They were all
different colours.
One had 110
kms, rear climate controls, clean interior, a dvd player but one mismatched tire
that was bald at the edge, some chipped paint off the bumper, some rust on the rocker
panels…. Another had stow n go (very cool), good tires, less wear and tear on
the body but no rear climate control, modified lights at the back, no dvd,
…. Another one had 137 kms, a hitch, remote
starter, okay tires but is dirty inside from use, wasn’t taken care of as well,
a dented bumper, no rear climate control.… The last one had stow n go seating,
very clean interior, 150 kms, really clean fluids but patched damage on both
bumpers, some unattached parts inside, didn’t look as nice outwardly, had no
rear climate control…
So, which vehicle
is better, which is worse? What features
are more important: low kms, less rust, special items, ability to stow seats, a
hitch (which we want, but could buy later), better interior, etc? We all have our personal preferences and
hubby and I will decide which are more important for our needs.
In the same way as Christians, we have
different gifts, talents, personalities, mental and intellectual abilities,
‘damage’ from our pasts, strengths, weaknesses, etc. For some reason, we often compare ourselves
to other Christians, but are we better or worse than them, or is that just our own
perception or preference as to what is better or worse? Sometimes we think our special features are
more special (or important) than someone else’s- or not as special (or
important). Do you compare your life, your gifts, your
abilities, your kids - even your spirituality - to other people’s?
For we do not dare to rank or compare ourselves with
some of the ones commending themselves. But they, measuring themselves among
themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, are not perceptive. 2Cr. 10:12
What if vans
spoke: I don’t like that van because
it’s overused (kms). That van’s no good
because it has a mucked up interior. Ew,
that one’s got rust on the outside. That
other one’s not special enough. That
one’s too damaged on the inside; the other’s too damaged on the outside. That van is all used up or too worn out. The other’s flashier on the outside but has
less substance. Sounds pretty dumb,
doesn’t it, yet we often compare ourselves to other believers that way. We either elevate ourselves as better than
others or devalue ourselves as worse than others. Both actions are ungodly.
Am I now trying to
win the approval of people or of God?... Gl. 1:10
ISV
…all members do not
have the same function, Rm. 12:4
…having gifts
differing according to the grace that is given to us… (v.6)
…for you are all
one in Christ Jesus. Gl. 3:28
(the Spirit) …distributing
separately to each one as He desires.
1Cr. 12:11
If the foot shall
say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of
the body? 1Cr. 12:15
But now God has set
the members, each one of them, in the body as
it has pleased Him. (v.18)
So it doesn’t really matter what we perceive or prefer, it’s what God
wants that’s important. Why? Because God knows best and what He considers
best, will in the end, be what satisfies our soul. No pastor is greater, no toilet scrubber the
lesser. In Christ Jesus we are ALL one
(v.20).
All glory to God who knows us better than we know ourselves.
Peace to you in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.