Bishop Keith Butler
Jan 15
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (1 John 3:11-12)
In his first epistle, the Apostle John warned believers about the dangers of comparison and condemnation. He is said that instead of judging and comparing each other, we should love one another with the same love that Christ loved us.
To illustrate the danger of comparison that kills compassion, John used the story of Cain and Able from Genesis.
Cain and Abel were the first sons of Adam and Eve. You can read about them in Genesis. Obviously, Adam had taught the boys about worship and sacrifice, and we see the two of them bringing their sacrifices before the Lord. Abel brought his best to worship the Lord with excellence of heart. Cain, on the other hand, brought his leftovers. He was giving to God because it was required of him. He didn’t give willingly, but rather grudgingly (2 Corinthians 9:1).
As Cain looked at Abel’s offering, he started comparing Abel’s worship to his own. That comparison ate away at Cain. His own heart condemned him so much it made him angry at his brother for being righteous. His anger grew until it got to a boiling point, and that comparison and condemnation led him to murder his righteous brother out of jealousy.
John tells this story to illustrate how we ought to love one another. First, we are to do it without comparison; do not judge the motives of your brothers and sisters in Christ and do not fall into condemnation when you see someone else succeeding.
God is love, and as children of His, we are called to love with mercy and grace.
When you are tempted to compare your faith to someone else’s, your giving to someone else’s, or your blessings to someone else’s, decide to celebrate them instead of judging them, knowing that your turn to celebrate will come soon as well.