Comparison - 2 Corinthians 10:11-13

10:11-12 - The people who criticized Paul for being physically weak, but spiritually strong in the letters that he writes, Paul assures them that just as strong as he is in letters “when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.” I think he’s saying that the spiritual strength that he shows in his letters, he will also show when he gets there in person, even if he is physically weak. He makes another interesting argument to his critics of his weak physical appearance and that is “compared to what?” He doesn’t say that specifically but he uses words like “commend” and “measuring” to describe the way that these people are making their assessments. I hadn’t considered it from this standpoint, that when I say or think something like, “wow, he’s stupid” or “she’s ugly,” it all comes down to “compared to who?” Jesus doesn’t think that he’s stupid or that she’s ugly because ultimately, there has to be a smart or pretty person that sets the intelligence or beauty standard. To argue that an apostle of God’s message is irrelevant because that person’s body isn’t the strongest ever, really just demonstrates how they don’t understand the nature of spirituality. Like we discussed yesterday, spirituality and physicality are not necessarily linked. One does not need to have a strong, beautiful body in order to have a strong, beautiful spirit. And again, people who are not in tip top physical condition are usually self-conscious about it, so bringing up physical deficiencies detracts from the spiritual conversation. And that’s really their point isn’t it? They can’t refute the spiritual aspect of the information so they shift the focus to something unrelated and therefore “justify” to themselves their rejection of it. Ultimately, there are two reasons why someone will turn spiritual discussions in to personal attacks. First, they don’t want to deal with the truth so they try to change the subject so that they don’t have to deal with it, and pissing you off so you leave them alone is the best way to do that. The second reason is pride. I didn’t understand this connection but after reading the IM’s President Uchtdorf’s quote it makes more sense. He says, “At its core, pride is a sin of comparison, for though it usually begins with ‘Look how wonderful I am and what great things I have done,’ it always seems to end with ‘Therefore, I am better than you.’” This comparison that was going on in Corinth between the members there was “not wise,” according to Paul. 10:13- - Instead of using each other as measuring sticks, Paul suggests that we compare ourselves “to the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.” Instead of looking at each other and equate our worthiness, Paul says that we should use the standard that God has given all of us. The Spirit lets us know what we are doing right and wrong, really, our only profitable comparison is us vs. the person that we can become, using the Spirit as a guide. I remember one time, I was thinking about something and said to myself, “I don’t deserve it.” This statement implies that someone does deserve it, but it’s not me because I have done “….” wrong. I remember distinctly a voice telling me, “it’s not up to you to decide what you deserve, it’s up to me. You have exactly what I want you to have. There are many people who don’t have everything that they do deserve and lots of people who have things that they don’t deserve.” This has changed my whole perspective on what it means to deserve something, to earn it, etc. At that point, I stopped comparing myself to others, I had more empathy for others, and saw in them just regular people. When I took the lens of comparison off of my views of others, then I more easily saw that everyone has their own struggles and strengths and that that aspect of their lives was between them and God. Just like my strengths and struggles are between me and God. It’s been a lot easier to live with this mind set than how I was doing it before.