What is that to you?

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” (John 21:22 NKJV)

It's easy to start comparing yourself to others. This is especially true if God has given you a vision or a goal that you are going after. You see others out there doing exactly what you want to do and you start to compare. Or on the other hand you might be further along then others and it makes you feel good. 

For me God has given me a desire to preach around the world and to be in ministry full-time. For whatever reason that has not happened yet and it is easy for me to compare myself to those I know who are in full-time ministry. Sometimes I even find myself comparing their age to mine and determining how many years I have left.

Jesus makes it pretty clear here that we are not to worry about those around us. We each have an individual walk with The Lord and we are to focus on one thing... Following Him. "What is that to you?" He says. What does it matter to you what the person next to you is going to do? You have a Word from the Lord for your life and you have a path laid out before you. Follow that path and don't get distracted by what others are doing or not doing. 

We can see a similar principle in the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30). The man with the two talents was not judged in comparison to the man with the five talents. All three were judged by their own ability and what they had been given. It will be the same for us. We will be judged by how we followed the path that we were given and how we used the opportunities given to us, regardless of what those around us have or have not done.

Have you been comparing yourself to those around you?

Are there any areas that you have been neglecting to follow Jesus?