Called or Comparing?
I typically write one blog post a week based on the previous Sunday’s message. However, I felt led to write a second post this week, one that touches on a different topic: Called or Comparing? As we explore this idea together, I pray it speaks to the hearts of those who might be wrestling with their own journey or feeling the pull to compare themselves to others. It’s easy to lose sight of our calling when we focus on where we’re not, but God calls us to be faithful where we are. Let’s dive into this together.
Called or Comparing?
The story of David being anointed king is a familiar one for many Christians. In 1 Samuel 16:1-7, the Lord tells Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king of Israel. As Samuel looks at Jesse’s sons, he’s convinced that the oldest, Eliab, must be the chosen one. Yet God stops him and says, “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature… for the Lord looks on the heart.
This passage speaks volumes about identity and how God sees us. Jesse’s sons all looked the part of a king, except for one: David, who wasn’t even invited to the gathering. David was left out, tending the sheep. But God wasn’t interested in appearances or positions—He was looking for someone with the heart to be king.
Faithfulness in the Field
After God rejects all of Jesse’s sons, Samuel asks, “Are all your sons here?” Jesse responds, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11). David didn’t worry about where he wasn’t—he focused on being faithful where he was.
David’s task was simple: take care of the sheep. He didn’t concern himself with what was happening with his brothers or why he wasn’t included. His focus was on being present and faithful in his work. In 1 Samuel 17, we later learn that David protected his sheep from lions and bears, showing his dedication to the task at hand. This seemingly small and mundane task was actually shaping David’s character, preparing him for the much larger role of being king. God often uses small tasks to develop the faithfulness and integrity we need for bigger things.
Think about your own life. Are there small tasks in front of you right now that feel insignificant? Are there moments where you feel overlooked? God uses these moments to build us. Faithfulness isn’t about being in the spotlight—it’s about being dedicated where you are, even when it feels unnoticed. David’s time protecting sheep was not wasted time; it was training ground for his future as a king. Jesus echoes this sentiment in Luke 16:10: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.
God’s Perspective vs. Human Perspective
We live in a world that places a high value on outward appearances. Whether it’s through social media, career success, or material possessions, it’s easy to get caught up in the external. But God’s way is radically different. As He said to Samuel, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
This message is especially relevant in today’s culture, where we can be easily tempted to prioritize success and visible achievements over character. It’s easy to admire those who seem to have it all together on the outside, but God is more concerned with the state of our hearts.
We often chase after what looks successful in the eyes of others, but God sees deeper. He sees our faithfulness, our perseverance, and our devotion when no one else is looking. This should shift our perspective from trying to appear successful to focusing on inward transformation and faithfulness.
Running Your Own Race
The apostle Paul, when addressing the elders in Ephesus, said, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24). Paul understood the importance of running his own race, staying focused on his calling.
It’s so easy to look around at others, comparing our journey to theirs. We see their achievements, their invitations, their positions, and we can quickly feel inadequate or distracted. But God doesn’t call us to live someone else’s life or fulfill someone else’s calling. He has uniquely equipped each of us for our own race.
David didn’t become who he was by worrying about what his brothers were doing or why he wasn’t invited to the gathering. He stayed focused on the task at hand, and that’s where his growth happened. God calls us to be faithful in the work He has entrusted to us, not the work He has given to someone else.
What about you? Are you too focused on someone else’s task or course? The danger in focusing on where we are not is forgetting to be faithful where we are. Comparison robs us of our joy and calling—we end up missing out on the opportunities God has placed in front of us.
Waiting on God’s Timing
David didn’t push his way to the front. He didn’t demand to be included. Instead, he waited on God’s timing. Patience is key in following God’s plan for our lives. If David had stormed in before being called or demanded recognition, we would see his story in a very different light.
This waiting period wasn’t wasted. David learned valuable lessons in the field that would later serve him as a king. Likewise, when we feel left out or overlooked, we must trust that God’s timing is perfect and that He is preparing us in ways we might not even understand.
Consider other biblical examples of waiting on God’s timing: Joseph in prison, Moses in the desert, or even Paul in prison. These moments of waiting were not signs of failure—they were seasons of preparation. God works in His own time, and our responsibility is to stay faithful while we wait.
The Danger of Distraction
Too often, we get caught up in what we’re not—where we’re not invited, what roles we don’t have—and in doing so, we lose sight of who we’re called to be. The danger of focusing on what we’re not is that we might never become who God wants us to be.
What would have happened if David had stormed in before being called? What if he had lashed out in frustration because he wasn’t initially invited? How differently would we view him today?
Instead, David waited. He remained patient and focused on his task. He wasn’t chasing after titles or recognition—he was simply chasing sheep.
Are You Present Where You Are?
David wasn’t concerned with being left out; he was present where God had placed him. What about you? Are you focused on where you’re not, or are you faithful where you are.
It’s easy to look at someone else’s life, achievements, or opportunities and feel left out. But God doesn’t ask us to run someone else’s race. He asks us to run our own .
Be present where you are. Stay faithful in the task God has entrusted to you. Then and only then, you’ll discover that your identity isn’t found in where you are or aren’t—it’s found in who God has called you to be.