Why Comparison Is SO Dangerous to Christians!

Comparison rarely shouts — it whispers. And when it does, it quietly steals something precious: your joy.

In this powerful episode of Behind the Mike Podcast with Mike Stone, we dive deep into why comparison is so dangerous for believers, how subtly it creeps into our faith, and how Jesus directly confronts it in Scripture.

Have you ever been faithful… obedient… committed to Christ — yet wondered why someone else’s life looks easier, more fruitful, or more blessed?

You’re not alone.

Through a personal story, biblical insight, and one of the most revealing moments between Jesus and Peter, this episode exposes how comparison:

📍 Turns blessings into burdens
📍 Turns calling into competition
📍 Turns trust in God into quiet suspicion

Jesus didn’t explain Peter’s future.
He didn’t justify God’s plan.
He simply said: “What is that to you? You follow Me.”

That’s where freedom lives.
That’s where joy returns.

👉 If comparison has been weighing on your heart — especially in the age of social media — this episode is for you.

📌 Subscribe to Behind the Mike Podcast with Mike Stone
👍 Like this episode to help others find it
💬 Comment below: Where have you felt comparison creeping in lately?

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TIMESTAMPED CHAPTERS:
00:00 – When Comparison Whispers, Not Shouts
00:38 – Why Comparison Quietly Steals Joy
01:04 – A Conversation With My Mom That Changed Everything
02:10 – How Comparison Reframes Blessings
03:07 – Why Comparison Feels So Normal
03:50 – The Social Media Trap
04:21 – Jesus, Peter, and “What About Him?”
05:28 – “You Follow Me” Explained
06:06 – 3 Dangerous Ways Comparison Damages Faith
06:47 – Saul, David, and the Cost of Comparison
07:39 – When Comparison Turns Into Distrust
08:19 – God Is Shaping Character, Not Comfort
08:55 – 3 Practices to Break Free from Comparison
09:33 – You Are Not Behind
10:05 – Where Joy Actually Lives

Transcript

0:00

So, have you ever loved Jesus? Been faithful. Done what you believed God asked you to do and still quietly thought, why does there life a lot easier than mine? Not bitter. I'm not angry, just heavy. Comparison usually doesn't shout. It whispers. And when it does, it slowly steals something precious. Not your faith, but your joy. Today I want to talk to you about why comparison is so dangerous for believers. Why it's so easy to fall into, and how Jesus directly confronts it in a way that's both firm and freeing. Because comparison doesn't just steal joy, it quietly erodes trust in God's wisdom. Stick around. While I was at my mom's house this past weekend with my siblings and just sitting around and talking. Nothing heavy, nothing planned. But at one point my mom said something that she said before. She said, I wish that we could have provided more for you kids growing up. I have a brother and two sisters and we jumped in and said, mom, we had a great childhood. And she stopped and said something that caught my attention. She said, maybe, but I saw what other parents were able to do for their kids and we couldn't do that. Same childhood, same home, same memories, but two very different experiences of it, two different perspectives. And what we were looking back on with gratitude. My mom was looking back through comparison and it hit me, you know, comparison didn't change what we had. It changed how it felt for her. And that's what comparison does. It doesn't erase blessings. It reframes them through someone else's life. That moment stayed with me. Because if comparison can distort something as real and good as a loving childhood, imagine what it can do to our faith. That conversation reminded me of how subtle comparison really is it? It doesn't announce itself as envy or bitterness. It often shows up as love mixed with regret, faith mixed with questions. And that's why we need to talk about why comparison feels so normal and why it quietly robs us of joy. Comparison feels natural because in many ways it is. We compare to measure progress. We find reassurance. We understand where we stand, and that's how humans work. But comparison becomes destructive when it stops being informational and starts becoming identity shaping, especially in the Christian life. We don't just compare houses, jobs, or vacations. We begin to find ourselves comparing our callings and ministries, our our marriages, our suffering and our outcomes. And we usually compare faithfulness on our end to the fruit on someone else's. Social media makes this worse because what you see online is it's rarely obedience. Its outcome rarely process it's platform, and it's rarely prayer. It's praise. And if you're not careful, you start wondering, am I doing something wrong? Did I miss something? Did God give me the short end of the stick and perfectly natural. That's one of the many downsides of social media. But here's the truth comparison is often distrust dressed up as discernment, and Scripture doesn't leave it unchecked. One of the most honest moments in the New Testament happens after the resurrection. So Jesus has restored Peter after his denial, his shame, and his failure three times. Jesus asked Peter if he loves him three times. Peter answers, yes, Lord. Three times Jesus recommissioned him. It's a beautiful moment. And then Peter looks over and sees John, and Peter asks, Lord, what about him? It's such a human question. Jesus has restored Peter's future, and Peter immediately starts comparing paths with John. And Jesus responds with one of the most clarifying lines in all of Scripture. He says, what is that to you? You follow me. Notice what Jesus didn't do. He doesn't explain John's future. He doesn't justify God's plan. And he certainly doesn't soothe Peter's curiosity. He redirects Peter's focus because comparison is a distraction that usually shows up right after restoration, right when God calls you forward and Jesus makes it clear. Joy is not found in knowing someone else's assignment. Joy is found in faithfully walking in your own assignment. Comparison doesn't always look like envy. It kind of kind of mutates. I'm going to show you three subtle ways that comparison does damage. First of all, comparison turns blessings into burdens. So you were once grateful. Then you noticed someone else's success. Now your obedience feels small. Your faithfulness feels unseen and your blessings feel diminished. Comparison doesn't remove blessings, but it poisons how you view them. Number two, comparison turns calling into competition. This is especially dangerous in ministry. You start measuring, reach, influence, applause instead of obedience. We're called to do what God's called us to do and not worry about the rest. Scripture gives us a tragic picture of this with Saul and David. Saul wasn't undone by failure. He was undone by comparison. The moment the crowd said, Saul is slain, his thousands and David his tens of thousands, Saul lost his joy. Long before he lost his throne. Comparison didn't motivate him. It just kind of gutted him. Three comparison turns trust into suspicion. And this is the dangerous stage. Probably the most dangerous stage. You don't say it out loud, but you feel it. Did God misjudge my path? Why is obedience costing me so much? And why does their road look so much smoother? Here's the hard truth. When we compare paths, we quietly accuse God of poor judgment. God is not random. He doesn't assign lives carelessly. The Bible shows us again and again that preparation differs. Timing differs. Our paths different. But the purpose never does. Look, God is shaping character, not curating comfort. Same grace, same salvation, but different assignments. Even Jesus didn't take the easy path. He stayed fixed on the father's will, even when he was misunderstood and rejected and abandoned. Your path is not evidence of neglect. It's evidence of intentionality. God isn't withholding from you. He's forming you on offer. Three practices, not formulas, not hacks. Number one name comparison when it appears. Don't spiritualize it. Confession disarms it. Say it plainly, Lord. I'm comparing. And it's robbing my joy. Second shift the question. Move from why them to Lord, what are you forming in me? Comparison looks outward, but formation looks upward. Number three. Measure faithfulness, not fruit. Fruit grows in seasons, right? Faithfulness is daily. God never ask you to manage outcomes only to be obedient. Look, let me let me say this clearly. For those of you who are struggling with comparison, you're not behind. Your calling is not smaller. And God has never once confused your path with someone else's. Comparison says look around. Jesus says, just follow me. And when Peter looked at John, Jesus didn't shame him. He understood, but he simply said, what is that to you? In other words, stay with me. Trust me and walk your road. That's where Joy lives. Well, I thank you for joining me today for this, I think, important thing that's been kind of placed on my heart after a conversation with my mother and, I want to encourage you to continue to follow. Behind the mic. Podcast with Mike Stone. If you're not already subscribed, please do so. Please. Like this. Please share it. I want to grow this audience because my my whole goal in this whole podcast and this YouTube session is just really to encourage believers and to kind of open the eyes of unbelievers. And if there's something that you'd like us to talk about Behind the Mike Podcast, simply put it in the comments or email me at Mike@BehindTheMike.net Thanks for joining me. Have a blessed day.