I had an epiphany this past weekend I am calling “REVERSE WISDOM.” Here’s the story. I used to think my level of wisdom went up with every passing year. But as my spiritual maturity has grown and compounded over the years, I think it’s the OPPOSITE. The closer I get to Christ, the less I rely on my own wisdom. My “LIFE wisdom” may grow every year, but my goal is to expand my “GOD Wisdom.”
I quickly pivoted to a focus on the active driver to this question of life wisdom vs God wisdom–COMPARISON.
People have always compared themselves to others, but today’s internet-addicted society has taken the practice to a staggeringly dangerous level.
Believers are in a vulnerable position like everyone else, of course. We can easily be tripped up and fall into the comparison trap by thinking “I am already wise” and superior to others.
God says STOP!
“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:7
True wisdom is from God. Never us.
Jesus is infinitely wiser than us and we should be humbled by his endless grace and allow it to erase our pride. Instead of us being “wise in our own eyes,” we need to “fear the Lord and reject evil.”
Fearing the Lord recognizes our inadequacy compared to his majestic greatness; our foolishness contrasted against his mighty wisdom; and our frailty in relation to his omnipotence.
Here’s my approach to the challenge of walking with Christ…
I want my default reaction to quickly despise my self-reliance and immediately turn to God’s perfect wisdom and discernment. And then do it again and again and again.
Fearing the Lord gobbles up our selfishness and vanquishes any presumption that we have our life under control. It leads us away from evil (Proverbs 16:6). And it is the mark of a wise man (Proverbs 14:16).
I strive to keep my gaze on God for his wisdom and to never rely on my own.
The goal is to turn our focus from self-reliance to God’s perfect guidance. The process of continually rejecting our own understanding—and comparing ourselves to others–in favor of God’s wisdom is essential.
As believers, we are called to despise our self-reliance and seek God’s discernment repeatedly. This ongoing practice underscores our need for God’s infinite wisdom over our limited understanding.
By continually turning to God, we cultivate a life marked by humility and true wisdom, steering clear of the dangers of self-deception and pride.
What follows are my top 5 tips to avoid the comparison trap:
1. Focus on Your Own Journey
• Recognize Your Unique Path: Understand that everyone’s life journey is different. Your experiences, challenges, and successes are unique to you.
• Set Personal Goals: Concentrate on your personal growth and achievements. Set goals that are meaningful to you and measure your progress against these benchmarks, not against others.
2. Practice Gratitude
• Daily Gratitude Journal: Keep a journal where you write down things you are grateful for each day. This helps shift your focus from what others have to what you already possess.
• Acknowledge Your Blessings: Regularly remind yourself of the blessings in your life, big and small.
3. Limit Social Media Use
• Curate Your Feed: Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you. Unfollow or mute those that trigger feelings of inadequacy or jealousy.
• Set Boundaries: Limit your time on social media platforms to avoid the constant barrage of others’ highlight reels.
4. Cultivate Self-Compassion
• Be Kind to Yourself: Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend.
• Avoid Negative Self-Talk: Replace critical thoughts with positive affirmations about your abilities and worth.
5. Seek God’s Wisdom
• Pray and Reflect: Spend time in prayer and reflection, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom.
• Study Scripture: Regularly read and meditate on Bible verses that reinforce your identity in Christ and remind you of God’s unique plan for your life.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What is your reaction when thoughts of being “full of wisdom” pop into your head?
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” Proverbs 2:6-8
