Learning from Biographies without Falling into Comparison

Jim and Elizabeth Elliot served as missionaries in Ecuador in 1952.

Less than four years later, Jim along with 4 other men were speared to death on the sandy beach where they’d flown in to attempt a face-to-face meeting with the natives.

Their story went global – the news of their martyrdom became a catalyst for world missions.

Jim’s biography became a best-seller, impacting thousands of people to answer the call to world missions.

That’s often the way God works, isn’t it?

He will use the biography of a believer to inspire us – maybe to warn us, correct us – or to encourage and motivate us.

That’s why I read one biography after another –

• I can learn from their mistakes;
• I am convicted by their example;
• And I am also encouraged that from century to century, the problems and challenges of the Christian life haven’t changed.

Most of all it’s a reminder that God isn’t timing how fast we run our race – or how many people we influence along the way.

Faithfulness is the true measure of running the race well.

When you think about it, the Bible is a Book of Biographies.

God seems to prefer teaching volumes of truth by wrapping them around the lives of people.

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15 that the history of the nation Israel, written down in the Old Testament, was given to the New Testament church,

“…for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

The writer of Hebrews wrote in chapter 12 that: We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us …Hebrews 12:1 (Paraphrased)

This cloud of witnesses refers to faithful believers who’ve gone on before us.

By the way, we can learn not only from the lives of people in the Bible, but those down through the ages who’ve have faithfully served God – some of them might be still alive.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians:

Join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Philippians 3:17

In other words, keep your eyes on others who are living a godly life and learn from them.

Ultimately, we’re looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) – which is why Paul clarified to the Corinthian church:

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

This clarification gives us a caution: even the apostle Paul was worthy of being studied only if he imitated the character of Christ.

The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7

In other words, watch how they live and take note of where they end up – and if their way of life is godly and it’s leading in a righteous direction, well then, imitate theirfaith.

Let me add another caution here, beloved.

You’re not told to copy someone’s experiences – their ministry style – their occupation – their gifting – we are imitating their faith – that is, their resolve to follow Christ.

One of the purposes of the assembly is to get around other believers for this very reason.

Hebrews 10:24 says;

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some . . . Hebrews 10:24

The assembly, on the Lord’s Day, is a place to observe living biographies.

Someone in here is observing you – your attitude – your spirit – your service – inspire them to imitate your faith by what they read in your biography.

The Danger of Turning Imitation into Competition

Now we have to be careful here not to allow imitation to become competition. We’re imitating integrity, not ministry.

The danger in watching other believers is that it can lead you to wonder why God isn’t doing with you what He’s doing with them.

Imitation can turn into comparison.

That believer you admire for their walk with God might start a business and prosper – you might start a business and go bankrupt.

Another Christian might have good health, and you might experience sickness.

Learning from another believer is not the same thing as longing:

• to live the life they have;
• to experience the breadth of ministry they have;
• to experience the same blessings they have from God,
• or the spiritual gifts God has given them.

That’s when the imitation of faith turns into

a comparison of life – that’s when

imitation can turn into competition.

You have never been told by God to run someone else’s race – the race you run is yours, uniquely designed by God.

• Every missionary will not become world famous like Jim and Elizabeth Elliot.

• Every biography will not become a best seller.

This is a reminder that in the end, God does not measure fame, He measures faithfulness.

Located next to the country of Ecuador, where Jim and Elizabeth served, is the country of Peru.

Another missionary couple – Bert and Colleen – were serving when Jim Elliot and his fellow-missionaries were martyred.

News spread around the globe and everyone was stunned by their death. Books and movies would be produced about their ministry.

You’ve probably never heard of Bert and Colleen.

If you compared Jim and Bert, they would have been entirely different missionaries in every respect.

Jim was a natural leader – a gifted speaker – a bold influence who was killed in 1956 at the age of 28.

Bert would live to the age of 87. A quiet disciple maker and church planter, who worked often with his hands teaching Peruvians how to manage crops and tend animals.

Jim served for less than 4 years. Bert would serve for 55 years.

I also learned that they served in the same Amazon/Andes region less than 350 miles apart.

Elizabeth Elliot actually knew Bert and Colleen, and years later she would write, “I often think of Bert and Colleen as examples of godly self-sacrifice, simple perseverance in jungle heat, mildew, mud, and rain, humbly ministering to lonely and needy people. (SOURCE: ^{Adapted from gilbertgleason.com)}

Bert and Colleen both passed away in 2012.

Several years ago, when Bert was asked to compare his ministry with Jim’s, Bert smiled and said, “Jim was a brilliant meteor, lighting up the sky, I was more like a faint star rising night after night.”

On another occasion Bert referred to Jim as a meteor and to himself as a plodder – just staying at it.

Bert refused to compare – he knew the gospel is spread, not just by meteors, but plodders.

I read that during their 55 years in Peru, Bert and Colleen would travel by canoe, on horseback, or walk for days on foot, camping out in the jungle, facing illnesses alone, flood seasons, even bandits who threatened their lives – but they just kept plodding through the jungles, mountain ranges and coastal cities of Peru.

Someone wrote it this way: Jim’s martyrdom inspired thousands to go – Bert’s life showed us how to stay.

These two missionary biographies strike me as an illustration of what the Lord is going to do with 2 of His original 12 disciples.

Before ascending back to Heaven, Jesus prepared breakfast at the seashore with Peter, James, John, Thomas, and Nathanael, and some other unnamed disciples.

After breakfast Jesus recommissioned Peter into ministry and changed his occupation from fisherman to shepherd. Three times, the Lord told Peter to devote his life to the flock.

Let me show you what happened next – I invite your attention to John chapter 21.

What happens next is easy to miss, but it is incredibly significant for all of us today as we imitate others – while being careful that it is imitation without comparison.

Let’s get a running start with verse 15:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-17

We studied this conversation a couple of Sundays ago together.

Jesus Corrects Peter’s Comparison with John

Now the Lord makes a prediction here in verse 18 to Peter:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and other will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. (This he/Jesus said to show by what kind of death he/Peter was to glorify God.) John 21:18-19

Peter, when you were young, you were independent and free. You could go and do whatever you wanted to do.

But when you’re old, somebody’s gonna stretch out your hands – this expression would be used to refer to an executioner tying someone’s hands to the crossbeam of a cross.

Clement of Rome in AD 96 referred to Peter’s martyrdom. In the second century, Origen wrote that Peter was put to death by crucifixion.

Peter himself wrote in his second letter that Jesus had made clear to him how he would die (2 Peter 1:14).

Now here in John 21, the Lord follows up this grim prediction in verse 19 – 

And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:19

Literally, “Peter, keep on following Me!Implied, “Peter, follow me all the way to your death.”

Peter would live the rest of his life under the shadow of his own cross.

Now with that – here’s what happened next:

Verse 20.

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

This is the apostle John by the way – who never refers to himself by name.

Now verse 21.

When Peter saw him/John, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” John 21:21

In other words, what are you gonna do with John? What’s his ministry gonna look like – what’s his life gonna be like?

Verse 22:

Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:22

In other words, “Peter, don’t worry about my plans for John – his race of faith will be different than yours. You . . . just . . . follow . . . Me!

Your Race Is Uniquely Designed by God

So, how do we avoid unbiblical comparisons, while at the same time allowing ourselves to be stirred by someone’s biography.

How do you keep a balance in this regard?

Well, first:

Recognize that your race of faith is uniquely designed by God.

• Peter will reach primarily a Jewish audience.

• John would reach a broader Gentile audience.

• Peter was a bold preacher who launched the New Testament church age with his courageous sermon in Acts chapter 1.

• John would pastor a small church, where he became known as the Beloved Disciple.

• Peter’s nickname was “The Rock”.

• John’s nickname was “The Elder Statesman”.

• Peter was impulsive – John was steady.

• Peter will die courageously as a martyr.

• John will live into his 90’s – perhaps the only disciple to die a natural death.

Recognize that your race of faith is uniquely designed by God.

Your gifting and personality are the creative handiwork of God.

Secondly:

Remember that your gifting and personality are the creative handiwork of God.

One source I read said that Peter showed us the grit of discipleship, where John showed us the heart of discipleship.

• These were two different men –
• two different personalities –
• to different challenges –
• two different races to run.

The point of First Corinthians chapter 12 is to inform us that we’re all uniquely different – and we have differing roles to play.

• We all have a place in the body of Christ – some are feet,
• some are mouths,
• some are eyes,
• some are invisible internal systems organizing and supplying and serving the body
• some are sensitive flesh
• and others are calloused hands.

In other words, face up to who you are, and come to terms with who you are not!”

That grammar is rugged, but you get the point.

In my interview with Chuck Swindoll I mentioned last Lord’s Day, this veteran pastor and author – now 90 years old and nearly completely blind – when I asked him what kept him in the race, pastoring for more than 60 years – he gave several reasons for it.

The first one surprised me a little, but the more I thought about it – and it surfaced in this study today because he was basically saying the same thing we’re learning in this text.

Swindoll said, “To start with, you need 3 things:

• first, know who you are;
• second, accept who you are;
• and third – be who you are.

Know who you are – how God has made you; accept who you are – and then be who you are.

Jesus is effectively saying here, “Peter,

you’re not John –

• your life isn’t to be compared with his life
• your ministry is gonna be a busy tour that’ll take you from Jerusalem to modern day Turkey

• John is gonna serve for years in the small town of Ephesus, where he’ll spend a lot of time in solitude – writing the Gospel of John, First, Second and Third John, and then spend nearly 3 years exiled and alone on the island of Patmos where he will write the Book of Revelation.

That kind of life would have driven Peter mad. But it was suitable for John.

Remember that your gifting and personality are the creative handiwork of God.

Comparison Breeds Discouragement, Not Contentment

Here’s another principle to keep in mind:

Remind yourself that the object of comparison is another human being.

They have their own set of problems and challenges we know nothing of.

We have this greener pasture myth about someone else’s ability, someone’s walk with God; we perceive their lives are happier, easier, more bearable.

If all you know about someone’s life is from Facebook or Snapchat or Instagram or Tiktok the wicked witch is dead – I always think of that when I hear tiktok, or maybe that’s Ding Dong the witch is . . . whatever, she’s dead.

And we are probably dead wrong in evaluating some other person’s life.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians that those who measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with others, are not wise (2 Corinthians 10:12).

For one thing, you are comparing your clay pot with another clay pot!

So remind yourself that the object of comparison is another human being. 

Comparing and competing with others is not only unwise, it’s a dead end.

And with that comes one final principle:

Recognize that comparing your life to others will never bring contentment, security or joy.

Instead it will breed sinful infections in the mind and heart:

On one hand it can produce boasting and pride: you’ll whisper to yourself, “From what I can see, I’m better than that other person over there.”

But more often, comparisons will produce:

discouragement – “I’m just not measuring up to where that other person is in life – I’m way behind everyone else.”

It can breed apathy – “Since I’m not as gifted as others, why bother . . . I’m gonna sit on the sidelines of ministry and service.”

It can breed envy – “I can't believe that God has used that person more than me – I want the breadth of ministry and opportunity they have.”

And with that, joy and contentment vanish.

F.B. Meyer, an insightful commentator from the 19^th century once admitted that he struggled with the nagging thought that God’s hand of blessing was always on somebody else.

So, there is this blessing from watching or reading the biographies of others – and there is this danger.

We can become preoccupied with other believers who are running their race of faith.

And that will lead to trouble.

As a young teenager, I was on a scooter, racing another kid on a minibike down a gravel road - I was ahead of the other guy by a comfortable distance – this was fun . . .

I turned around to see where he was and at that moment my front wheel hit a pothole and the handlebars of that bike jerked to one side and locked.

I flew over the handlebars and landed in a ditch on the side of the road that was filled with waist high weeds and grass. It was like landing on a mattress. I got up without a scratch.

Years ago I tried to use that story on my wife to tell her that I ought to have a motorcycle because God had given me special protection. She used that story to tell me something else . . . which doesn’t fit my sermon.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that while we can learn from others – this great cloud of witnesses – but he writes a few verses later to stay preoccupied with Christ, so thatwe will not grow weary of fainthearted (Hebrews 12:3).

“Peter, don’t become preoccupied with John – don’t focus on him, or you will lose heart and hope . . . instead, “YOU Peter – the emphasis is on “you” in the original language – YOU . . . follow me.”

Peter was not meant to be John and John was not meant to be Peter.

Faithfulness, Not Fame, Is God’s Measure of Success

Jim Elliot was not Bert and Bert was not Jim Elliot.

They were both missionaries – in the same region – but with different gifts, different ministries, different races to run.

You see, Jim Eliott was a meteor – lighting up the sky for a brilliant moment in time.

But his older brother Bert – Bert Eliott – was a plodder – a faint star that never drew any attention – it simply rose like clockwork and ran its circuit in the sky night after night after night.

Bert Eliott is the Eliott you’ve probably never heard of.

But through faithful ministry, Bert and his wife Colleen would reach thousands of people tucked back into places no one would ever visit.

And after 55 years of service, they had planted 150 churches.

God uses meteors and plodders alike.

But for both to be used – including you and me who are somewhere between meteors and plodders –

the secret for all of us is to slip into

the sandals of Jim and Bert and Peter

and John and take the Lord’s

command as our own when He says:

“You –

who you are –

where you are –

with what I have gifted in you –

where I have assigned you in life –

you follow me.”