“Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?'” John 21:20

Do you wish God would give you what He has given someone else? When you look around, you see others that seem to have life easier. They enjoy a life more pleasurable than we experience. It may seem that God demands more from you than He demands from others. The natural tendency is to compare what we have with that of others.

The problem with comparing callings is that Jesus requires a total commitment and undivided attention to the assignment in life that He has given us.

Peter turned from following Jesus to focusing on the disciple, John. As he focuses on John, he concerns himself about John’s calling more than his own. Therein is the problem. When we spend time comparing our lives with others, we lose our undivided attention on the Lord. For Peter to turn to see John is for Peter to turn from seeing Jesus. Anything that distracts us from the Lord should be considered a compromise and be avoided.

To remember that John is the original source of the question of betraying Jesus may have troubled Peter. John asked the question, “Who is it that is going to betray you?” Peter had confidently responded that we would be the last one to betray the Lord but was really the most dramatic betrayal other than that of Judas Iscariot. True, Peter had restated his commitment with the resurrected Savior on the shore by the sea. Peter may have wished to distract his challenged commitment by pointing to others.

Peter may have been concerned that the Lord’s demand on him being more than that of John. Everyone desires to be recognized and honored but few desire to pay the price. The Lord’s assignment for each of us is dictated by our purpose in the kingdom, not our pleasure as a servant. Comparing one to another is most unproductive in helping us focus on following Jesus.

Peter may have desired to meddle with the life John was privileged to have. But the life to which God calls others is none of our business. Our business is to focus on following Jesus. There is a sense what God does with others is none of our business. We have more than enough to accomplish by pleasing the Lord with obedient living.

The main thing we should make our focus today is the Lord, not anyone else. Comparisons and debates about the assignment of others produces procrastination and frustration. Focusing on our own assignment produces acceptance and fulfillment of the Lord’s expectations of us.

Instead of spending time today comparing to others, compare yourself to what you know the Lord has asked you to do. Do what the Lord asks, and you will find that His response can be, “Well done,” not, “That’s none of your business.” Just follow Jesus! That is our assignment.

Bro. John A. Temple is pastor of Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church, 4032 Poplar Springs Drive, Meridian. Visit the church website at www.psdbc.org. From the Shepherd’s Heart is published Fridays in The Meridian Star.