So far we have looked at two suggestions to help us consistently walk in the power of the Spirit.  We should first examine our motives to see whether or not we are pursuing a particular discipline or ministry primarily for the glory of God, or in order to gain the applause and thanks of other people.  And secondly, we should pray; pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and strength.  That brings us to the third suggestion:

3.  Be Careful How You Compare Yourself with Others.  I love biographies.  I am often encouraged and edified when I read about the lives and ministries of great saints.  For the most part, however, I don’t only experience encouragement and edification; I often experience intimidation when I am confronted with the lives of such saints.  More often than not, the lives of other eminent saints make me more acutely sense my laziness, unprofitableness, lack of passion, cowardice, my woeful lack of wisdom and my sin.  Now, this can be a good thing-especially if it causes me to consider my own life, repent from these sins, learn from these saints, and pursue the Lord with even greater vigor. 

But on the other hand, this can also be deadly.  After examining the life of a great saint who has accomplished much for Christ and His kingdom, one can make the mistake of slavishly emulating them.  Al Mohler reads 7-10 books a week? Well so will I.  Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions?  I’ll write 80.  John MacArthur has a international tape and book ministry?  That’s I need to have.   Charles Spurgeon preached with profound eloquence and rich illustration with little or no notes?  Give me a 3×5 card.  William Wilberforce had his hand in over 60 initiatives during his time in parliment, and was key in abolisihing slave trade in Britain?  Look out, Washington. 

You get the point.  If I slavishly follow after these great men, assuming that a ministry pleasing to the Lord is a ministry that perfectly mirrors their ministry, my life will be clogged with utter frustration, and, perhaps, a great amount of flesh, as I seek to be someone I was never intended to be. 

And this doesn’t only have to happen with the saints of old-we can wrongly compare ourselves with others in our own church.  Whatever the case, we must always come back to a very important reality.  There are different parts in the body of Christ.  Some of us are ears.  Some of us are eyes.  Some of us are pinky toes.  We all serve a purpose in the body and we all have spiritual gifts.  But our function is different.  I will never be a Charles Spurgeon.  But that’s OK.  God has given me specific gifts and a specific work for me to do.  It will look different, but it is still a work entrusted to me by the same Christ who equipped and entrusted Spurgeon to do his work.  I have been made differently, gifted differently, and placed differently than Charles Spurgeon. 

So was Paul-that’s why he could say, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (I Corinthians 12:10).  Our place in history?  Grace.  Our giftedness?  Grace.  The work and ministry entrusted to us?  Grace.  If we seek, with all our hearts, to fulfill what God has called us to fulfill – not what someone else has fulfilled – then we will someday hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and our labors will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, rather than hindered by our sinful flesh.