Before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, everyone was analyzing what needed to happen for the Cavs to get a win and make the series interesting. With LeBron James seen as one of the greatest players of all time, the conversations are centered on how he should lead his team to victory while also comparing him to other stars.

Fans, media, and even Phil Jackson had discussions about the possibility of LeBron playing more of a style like Michael Jordan, considering his success in the Finals.

But when listening to LeBron’s response to some of these comments, he seems quite content being himself: “I mean, I think for me to go out and be who I am and play as true to the game and as hard as I can and try to lead this team, that’s who I am. Not anybody else. I’m not Michael. I’m not Ali. I’m not nobody else that’s done so many great things for sport. I am who I am…” LeBron’s mentality and strategy worked for Game 3, but the comparisons to Jordan probably won’t stop.

Comparing not only takes place in the world of sports but is unavoidable in our own lives too. We are either comparing ourselves to others or being compared by someone else. Jobs, cars, houses, marriages, kids – we simply can’t escape thinking about what others have or what they do and evaluating how we stack up.

Galatians 6:4-5 (NLT) gives us good instruction on having the right mindset to combat the comparing: “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”

If we aren’t careful, making comparisons can quickly lead to discontentment because someone will always appear better or have more. Our challenge today is to find contentment in who we are in Christ and to be thankful for what God has given us.

Let’s remain responsible for what God has called us to do, and instead of comparing ourselves to others, join LeBron in saying, “I am who I am.” I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m guilty of comparing what I have and what I do to other people. Sometimes I want what others have and other times I think I stack up better than someone else. Please help me not to get caught up in comparisons, but to find contentment because of who I am in Christ. Thank you for how You’ve made me and what You’ve given me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.