Monday Memo 1240: No Comparison

“The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.”— 1 Corinthians 3:8

Comparing what you do to another is a sure way to undermine faithful labor. Paul addressed this directly when he reminded the Corinthians that different workers play different roles, yet each is evaluated by God according to their own labor—not by how their work or its results compare to others.

In Corinth, believers were elevating certain leaders and minimizing others. Paul dismantled the thinking behind that tendency by shifting the focus from visibility to responsibility. Some plant. Some water. God gives the increase. The point is not whose work looks more impressive, but whether each person is faithful to the task assigned to them. Each person has a creative purpose, which is exemplified beautifully in Revelation 2:17:

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."

This image reinforces that God’s work in and through us is personal, not interchangeable—and therefore not comparable. Comparison tempts us to measure our work by outcomes over which we have no control. It asks why someone else’s effort seems more fruitful, more recognized, or more celebrated. Paul redirects us to a different standard: your labor. God doesn't ask you to manage another person’s assignment. He asks you to manage yours.

You may know my story. I was trying to be a Sunday pastor, being with one group of people week in, week out, and I was dying. I was trying to function as I thought a pastor should, as the people and the role wanted me to. And then I compared the size of my church ministry to that of others, which wasn’t wise. When I stepped away from that and embraced who God made me to be as a writer and traveling speaker, I went from misery to joy, from fruitlessness to an abundance harvest.

Much frustration in life comes from trying to carry work that was never given to us or resenting work that was. When we compare, we either diminish our own obedience or envy someone else’s. Both distract us from faithful labor, which may or may not be in the church.

Labor without comparison frees us to work steadily, consistently, and joyfully. It allows us to stay in our lane, trust God with the results, and remain faithful even when progress is slow or unnoticed. God sees the labor others overlook—and He rewards accordingly. I know because that's what He's done for me.

Reflection

1. Where have you been tempted to compare your work with someone else’s?
2. How has comparison affected your motivation or joy?
3. What would faithfulness look like if comparison were removed?

Prayer

Lord, free me from the trap of comparison. Help me labor faithfully in what You have given me to do, trusting You with the results. Teach me to measure success by obedience, not by outcomes. Amen.

Application

This week, resist the urge to measure your progress against someone else’s. Instead, ask God to help you see and stay focused on the work He has assigned you and then to labor faithfully within that responsibility.