DAILY TEXT, From today Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Humbly think that others are superior to you (Philipp. 2:3).
Let us examine the scriptures every day 2023
Tuesday, November 14
Humbly think that others are superior to you (Phil. 2:3).
If we think that others are superior, we will not compete with those who have more talents or abilities than us, but we will be happy for them. This is especially true if they are using their abilities for the praise of Jehovah. The result will be that we will all foster peace and unity in the congregation. What will help us control the tendency to envy? Be modest, that is, recognize that we have limitations. If we are modest, we will not try to prove that we have more talent and ability than other people. Rather, we will look for ways to learn from those who do certain things better than us. For example, if a brother in the congregation presents excellent public talks, we can ask him how he prepares them. If a sister cooks very well, we can ask her for some tips to improve. w21.07 15, 16 paras. 8, 9.
What questions should we ask ourselves?
It is a good idea to analyze ourselves from time to time. We can ask ourselves: “Do I need to compare myself to others in order to feel good about myself? What drives me to work in the congregation? Is it a desire to be better than others, or at least better than a certain brother or sister? Or is it simply my desire to give the best to Jehovah?” Why is it important to answer these questions? Let's see what the Bible says.
Why should we not compare ourselves with others, as Galatians 6:3, 4 says?
The Bible tells us not to compare ourselves with others (read Galatians 6:3, 4). Because? Because, if when we compare ourselves with others we feel superior, we can become proud. And, if we feel inferior, we can become discouraged. Neither option reflects good judgment (Rom. 12:3). A sister from Greece named Katerinab says: “I had a habit of comparing myself to other sisters who seemed prettier, more skilled in ministry, and friendlier. “That made me feel like I was worthless.” Let us remember that Jehovah did not bring us to him because of our beauty, ease of speech, or popularity, but because we are willing to love him and listen to his Son (John 6:44; 1 Cor. 1:26-31).
What do you learn from what happened to a brother named Hyun?
We can also ask ourselves: “Do others see me as someone who always seeks peace, or do I get into conflicts with others every now and then?” Let's look at the case of a brother named Hyun, who lives in South Korea. There was a time when he saw those who had privileges in the congregation as rivals. He says: “I criticized them and almost never agreed with what they said.” Which it was the result? He admits: “My attitude caused divisions in the congregation.” Several of his friends helped him see that he had a problem. Hyun made the necessary changes, and today he is a very good old man. What do we learn? That we must take action if we notice that we have a tendency to promote competition instead of seeking peace.
According to Galatians 5:26, what defects can lead us to manifest a spirit of competition?
(Read Galatians 5:26). What defects can lead us to manifest a spirit of competition? One is egocentrism. The self-centered person is proud and selfish. Another defect is envy. The envious person not only wants what another person has, but he also wants that person not to have it. Therefore, being envious of someone means hating them. Without a doubt, we want to avoid these defects as if they were the plague.
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