Have you ever heard an amazing testimony of God’s grace and victory in someone else’s life…and been discouraged by it? I have to confess that sometimes when I hear about God’s work in the lives of other Christians, I become focused on my own shortcomings rather than on what God has done. When I hear stories of people who boldly trust God to meet their needs, I am reminded of my own lack of trust. When I hear about acts of sacrifice and self-denial, I often feel convicted about my own selfishness. Rather than rejoicing in what God has accomplished in and through these saints, I find myself asking, will I ever be in that place of victory?

While it is good for us to be mindful of our own sin, I believe that the line of thinking that causes me to be discouraged by the victory of other Christians is essentially dishonoring to God. It fails to take into account one of the crucial doctrines of the New Testament, the idea that those who follow Christ are all members of his body. In the book of Romans, Paul puts it plainly: “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us”(Romans 12:4-6a). This is completely contradictory to our modern climate of competition. Far too often this atmosphere infiltrates the church, leading us to view other Christians as our competitors rather than as our allies. When God does extraordinary things in the life of one of his children, some of us may be tempted to feel that this person has “blown the curve,” causing the rest of us to be judged more harshly.

However, a true belief that we are the body of Christ should rule out all jealousy, competitiveness, and comparisons. If a good thing happens to one part of the body, it enriches you as a member of the same body. Ask yourself a question: Would you be just as happy for the Christian in the pew in front of you to receive a spiritual blessing from God as you would be if you received it yourself? If you’re like me, you probably answered no. But I believe that the answer to this question could be a resounding “yes” if we prized the doctrine of the body of Christ. Think of how your joy could be magnified if you considered the good of others your own good!

Listen to the words of the apostle Paul: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). As members of the same body, we are called to peace, not competition. We are also called to thankfulness. Paul doesn’t specify exactly what we are to be thankful for. Could it be that our differences should be one cause of thanksgiving? If your neighbor excels in an area that is your weak point, this is cause for rejoicing, not shame. God has made us different to help one another. When I hear of someone who has the gift of mercy to the poor, I shouldn’t focus on my own shortcomings in this area, but rejoice that Christ is alive and working through his body. If God answers the prayer of my brother or sister, it should be to me as if He’s answered my own prayer.

We all know what it is to feel the weight of others’ problems; let us not miss out on being lifted by others’ blessings. God is giving good gifts to members of his body all over the world, even as you sleep. The glorious doctrine of the body of Christ should magnify our joy and call forth our thanksgiving.