According to the social comparison theory we subconsciously have the tendency to compare ourselves with the social group with whom we belong to or recognize; and that social comparison is healthy as long as it causes us to grow, strive, and develop in our lives and well-being.
As children of God, we also develop the tendency to compare ourselves with the characters in the Bible and sometimes incidents that relate to the Lord Himself. We would often hear people say, "Even Jesus got angry" really not understanding the context of their anger or in turn its expression. If everyone of us can take examples of Jesus's anger and compare ourselves with Jesus I presume it would be ridiculous. The anger of Jesus was not personal but public; it was righteous anger and not based on hurtful ego. We can be in grave danger of social comparison if we are not making them in the right context.
Have you ever heard people say, "I showed the other side face to the one who slapped me just like the way Jesus said" (not literally)... meaning to say I allowed others to hurl insults and/or humiliation at me when they offended me? Rarely...When we cannot dare to make such comparisons with Jesus how can we make any comparisons at all with the great King?
Is there no instance in the Bible which we can use to compare ourselves with the Lord. I doubt so. However, there is one statement of Lord Jesus which we can take it personally. We all know that Jesus was not loved, accepted and acknowledged by all as God. The Pharisees and the Sadducees hated him. If He being good refrained to be called as good, how can we expect others to perceive us as good?
(Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19).
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
We mortals are no good to compare ourselves with the Great and Good Lord- A thought to ponder...
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