Comparison

Comparison is defined as "the action of comparing, likening, or representing as similar, the relation between things such as admits of their being compared, comparable condition or character, always with negative expressed or implied." To compare means "to consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous; to liken; to examine in order to note the similarities or differences."

“What is that to thee? follow thou me.” – John 21:20-22.

Comparison is a law of doing; judgmental comparison is a soul taint. Thus, comparison is an initiation. The only legal comparison is to some established earthly norm of performance. In spiritual terms, you may compare yourself only to the Christ in the Light.

Edna Lister on Comparison

The rule most often disobeyed is "What is that to thee? Follow thou me." – John 21:22. – Edna Lister, July 29, 1938.

Each is accountable only for his own welfare. Allow all others to continue without comment or gossip. "What is that to thee? Follow thou me." – John 21:22. – Edna Lister, October 18, 1939.

The world says, "Let him have his way." There can be only one Way, not many. "Follow me." – Edna Lister, November 1, 1940.

Don't look at another's weakness, which weakens you, because your Light dims when you dare to look around. Look up, not back, like Lot's wife. – Edna Lister, September 2, 1941.

Do not to compare yourself with anyone else, only with the Master, forgetting all else. – Edna Lister, October 28, 1941.

Compare your self with God, not with man. – Edna Lister, April 30, 1942.

You receive a fullness of experience on earth by which to compare, until you are fully satisfied. – Edna Lister, November 11, 1942.

We are following the Master, this is our standard of comparison, not with anyone on earth. – Edna Lister, July 7, 1945.

The process of thinking, the power of reasoning includes induction, comparison, deduction, analysis and synthesis. You constantly induct from the outer through the solar plexus, and it becomes an emotional experience. You compare the present with past experiences, then apply the sifting process of deduction. Under analysis you bring reason and logic to bear as rationalization. Synthesis is your final weaving together of all elements into a formula or conclusion. – Edna Lister, July 25, 1945.

God tests souls for blame, judging false judgments from outer appearances, and for a critical attitude that exalts itself by comparing its safe, secure place and miracles with another's. – Edna Lister, May 9, 1951.

You too often compare yourself with others, wishing you could be like them, always efficient, musical or artistic, writing, cooking, perfect poise, ease in expression, grace, etc. Such comparison is dangerous, and produces negativity, undervaluing of one’s own talents or abilities, and loss of confidence.

Comparison can lead to jealousy, conscious or subconscious, and ultimately to self-pity. When you go down the pole in pity for your poor little self, you begin making excuses: "I have not done it well because." Give up the because. "I cannot do that tonight because I have had a hard day. Do you realize how much I have done today? I am too tired." You feel yourself to be a burden bearer and your back, shoulders or neck begins to ache. – Edna Lister, June 2, 1952.

As your measuring rod to compare each action from now on, use only your greatest moment of highest exaltation of love, and devotion to the point of melting surrender. – Edna Lister, June 3, 1953.

Stop comparing yourself with how you were yesterday. Compare yourself with what you must become. – Edna Lister, December 9, 1953.

When your consciousness is ascended, you cease to compare yourself with others, but take joy in their good points and improve yours. – Edna Lister, March 29, 1954.

You become "involved" in earth's affairs when personal opinions and prejudices take over. You begin to play one person against another, comparing them, judging them and investing your soul substance in them. – Edna Lister, March 9, 1955.

"What is that to thee? Follow thou me." – John 21:22. Compare yourself with God, with the Master, not anyone else. All that you can attain by comparing yourself with anything or anyone in the world is to feel good for a brief time, which brings no lasting benefit. "I now compare myself with the Master only." – Edna Lister, Divine Laws for Conquerors, October 7, 1955.

Pride, envy, jealousy and self-righteousness compares itself to another's detriment. – Edna Lister, Your Treasures, January 15, 1956.

Comparison of your current plan with past experience is invaluable, an essential step in planning. – Edna Lister, June 26, 1956.

You invest your life substance when you compare, which anchors others and you. – Edna Lister, November 9, 1956.

Compare law interpretation; seeking advice of others on what treatment, what method, what application of law to use is legal. – Edna Lister, June 28, 1957.

To whom do you compare yourself? Neighbors? Family? Friends? To pat yourself on the back and say, "I am doing better than they are," is cold comfort to a heart that wants to love God. – Edna Lister, The Point of No Return, December 15, 1957.

You are wonderful when you judge yourself by your neighbor's standard, if that's what you want. Yet to be a firebrand for God, you must do something about improving. – Edna Lister, December 25, 1957.

You reach a point in ascension where Councils grant no extension of time for trying, only for doing, and permit no more justifications or excuses. When you apply worldly comparisons, you open yourself to complete retrogression. – Edna Lister, September 17, 1958.

You wear your own shoes on earth because you couldn't fit into anyone else's. It may not be the place God intended, but it is the place you have made. – Edna Lister, November 10, 1958.

You have no time to compare your present performance with the past; you will have no time to fall backward if you compare yourself with your Father in heaven. One day your vision will be so great that you will have no time to compare anything on the outer. – Edna Lister, May 8, 1959.

Compare yourself only with the Christed ensample to lift yourself from earth's weight and bondage to the necessity of overcoming and lifting past misuse of Mind, Substance and Power. – Edna Lister, February 26, 1960.

You may not compare yourself, actions, words or inner thinking and feeling with any lesser degree, no matter its perfection. You lose all in such comparisons. Your comparative point is the Source, and until you demand this perfection of yourself, day and night, you are in danger. – Edna Lister, March 22, 1960.

Whether you are hurt or joyous, you are unconsciously comparing the low and high points, wondering how long it can last. The law is "What is that to thee? Follow thou me." – John 21:22. – Edna Lister, June 6, 1960.

You use comparison daily. You either can compare yourself with God or to man, which determines where you go. Compare yourself to the Master on the Mount of Transfiguration. – Edna Lister, Wherever You Go, October 22, 1961.

It matters not that you occupy a lowly earth estate. The lily bulb accidentally planted in a barnyard still blooms. – Edna Lister, Expansion, Explosion, Expression, September 10, 1962.

Compare yourself with no one but the Master, forgetting all else. Identify with God. Stand in the Light. – Edna Lister, December 6, 1963.

As you ascend in vibration, your high point becomes the new standard to which you compare your daily living. – Edna Lister, December 6, 1963.

Hold your comparative contrast in mind, not once a year, but daily. Contrast your low point with your high point and get back on track. – Edna Lister, December 19, 1963.

Real progress doesn't come fast, it is slow, almost imperceptible. In fact, you must compare your present position with where you were a year ago to see any significant difference at all. – Edna Lister, January 25, 1964.

Never sentimentalize, which is rehashing it. Some people have partners in this, one friend goes to another for pessimistic reinforcement. Sentimentality is of the self, and not objective. Show compassion, for only it is objective and treats all equally. – Edna Lister, October 1, 1964.

Don't compare yourself to the other fellow's inadequacies. – Edna Lister, Am I Strong to Endure? December 18, 1966.

If you compare a situation with something of earth, it shows a taint in you. Don't compare. – Edna Lister, November 21, 1968.

Under psychology, you use the categories of reason, comparison, deduction, induction, and synthesis. Psychologically, the only way you can decide is through comparison. Use your mental faculty of logic to reach the mind that was in Christ Jesus instead. – Edna Lister, November 25, 1969.

New Testament on Comparison

Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:20.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. – Matthew 5:48.

With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. – Matthew 7:2-5.

With the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. – Luke 6:39-42.

Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following … Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. – John 21:20-22.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. – James 2:1-10.

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. – Mark 7:1-9.

Take heed and beware of covetousness, for your life does not consist in the abundance of the things you possess. – Luke 12:15.

While comparison is different than judging, some judgment exists in negative comparison, so we include these laws here:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. – Matthew 7:1-2.

Call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work. – 1 Peter 1:17.