Well at least I never…
Ever console yourself regarding your behavior, words, judgments, and/or circumstances that make you look bad by qualifying these moments with the following.... “Well, at least I am not like so-and-so."
With these simple words, I prop up my relative goodness by comparing myself with someone I deem as more flawed than I am. And just like that... WHAM BAM, my life is graded on a gentle self-affirming curve.
Using this self-affirming yardstick, let me share a few… 'at least I never' …moments from the Bible and today for you to measure your goodness. Are you ready? Let’s get started.
THE OLD TESTAMENT
My wife and I sometimes disagree, but at least I never gave her away as my sister did, like Abraham did. Ge 12:25
At least I never confessed to my wife that a prostitute saved me. Joshua 2
I have not always liked my neighbors, but at least it never beat even one of them with a jawbone of a donkey like Samson. Judges 15
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Not everyone appreciates my strong opinions, but at least no one wants me dead (that I know of) Mark 3:6
I may not always listen to God, but at least I never needed a Blinding Light from God to get my attention… (that I noticed) Acts 9:1-6
I confess I have fallen asleep in church, but at least I never fell out of a church pew (yet) Acts 20:9-12
TODAY
While I am not the perfect husband, at least I never (ok, rarely)... THINK OUT LOUD. James 1:19ish
And finally...I may not be perfect, but at least I never …cheered for the Minnesota Vikings. Sorry, the cheese that made me do it.
Of course, these… ‘at least I never’ …examples are only here to make you smile, as any comparison to another person is a flawed yardstick at best.
Instead, we are called to love God with all our hearts and to love others, not to compare with others.
Also, concerning my goodness... News Flash: I am not so good.
Our sins are as scarlet, He makes them white as snow. Isaiah 1:18
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by HIS GRACE through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
AGAIN... all are Justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that came through Christ Jesus! This is our hope and promise from God, and not by comparison to anyone; you are, at the very least, not like them.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
May God bless and comfort you with these promises of God's Grace for a repentant heart, and where you no longer look to rely on any yardstick, at least mine.
Jeff (at least I do not attend a snake handler church) Larson
