Last spring I planted an herb garden, even though I don’t have a “green thumb.” In fact, I only sporadically watered the plants when their environment reached desertlike conditions. But, fortunately, I was able to enjoy cooking with the fresh fruits of my labor throughout the summer. A year later, though, I looked out at my garden and realized that my garden—like my life—was in a different phase. The mint had taken over, some herbs were completely wiped out, and others were barren stalks. I decided it was a good season to pull them up.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 teaches us that life also moves in seasons. Although the truths found in God’s Word are unchanging, He uses varying methods at different times to accomplish His purposes. Our role as His people is to hear His voice, understand the times, and know how to respond (1 Chronicles 12:32; John 10:4).
Although biblical truths are universal, the application of them can be individualistic and personal. The things He asks of you may not be the things He is asking of someone else.
Even in the church, we can easily get caught up in comparing ourselves with others and feeling threatened if God is moving someone in a different way than what we’re experiencing. We may even go so far as to judge others by our personal preferences or our individual relationship with Jesus rather than by Scripture. Jeremiah 1 reminds us:
• God knew what we would do in His kingdom even before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5).
• God has called us as individuals and will help us complete our work for Him (Jeremiah 1:7-9).
• Our role is to obey His Word; His is to bring it to pass (Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 1:12).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Kings 10:1-13
More:
Read Acts 10:1-35, Acts 11:1-2, Acts 11:17-18 to see how God’s specific task and timing in Peter’s life also affected the community of believers as a whole.
Next:
When have you been lonely because God called you to do something different than those around you? How can we discern between biblical standards and individual calling?
tom felten on April 16, 2013 at 8:25 am
Great word from the Word, Regina. As Jesus said, obedience to His commands reveals our love for Him (John 14:21), and it also causes us to stop the comparison game and joyfully live the life He has for us.
regina franklin on April 16, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Thanks, Tom. I was just reading in 1 John last night and came across this verse–“But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
pandiario on April 16, 2013 at 8:18 pm
He helped me to overcome with his love , and giving to other what he gave me, also following with obedience his commands like brother Tom said amen.God bless you all.
regina franklin on April 16, 2013 at 8:45 pm
Dear Pandiario,
What a beautiful testimony–that we overcome because of His love for us!
mike wittmer on April 17, 2013 at 1:25 pm
This is a good word, Regina. I was just thinking about this idea this morning–why I can become jealous of what God is doing in others. Why not me? One thought that came to me is that I often have these thoughts when I’m treading water spiritually. If I am actively loving others and sharing Jesus with them, I won’t have time, and neither will I care, what God is doing through others, because I’m focused on how He is loving through me.
regina franklin on April 17, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Thanks, Mike. I am becoming more convinced that fear is at the root of most of our struggles in life. In times when I have struggled with the sin of comparison, the real issue is a fear of insignificance. Thanks for the reminder that when we stay intimate with the Lord and active in that love as we serve others, fear doesn’t have room to prosper.