“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV)

 

Before Jehoshaphat, king of Juda,h died, he shared his possessions among his children. He gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn. But he gave all the brothers of Jehoram great gifts of silver and gold and precious things with some fortified cities in Judah.

 

After the death of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram became the king. Although his younger brothers posed no threat to him, yet Jehoram was insecure. Consequently, Jehoram killed all his brothers and other princes of Israel.

 

2 Chronicles 21:1-4 – NKJV

 1 And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

 2 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

 3 Their father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.

 4 Now when Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel.

 

Although Jehoram had killed all his brothers and other princes of Israel, he had no rest, for God stirred up many adversaries against him who invaded Judah and carried away all his possessions, including his sons and his wives. Afterward, Jehoram was struck with an incurable disease.

 

2 Chronicles 21:16-20 – NKJV

 16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians.

 17 And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

 18 After all this the LORD struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease.

 19 Then it happened in the course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers.

 20 He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

 

What a lesson for us to beware of insecurity!

 

The fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden happened as a result of insecurity. They were not secure in God’s love, plan, and purpose for them. Though they were made in God’s image, according to God’s likeness, and given dominion over all other creations, yet they were not secure.

 

The devil simply exploited the insecurity and lust of Adam and Eve to be something or somebody else other than what or who God had made them be.

 

Genesis 3:4-6 – NKJV

 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

 

The bait the devil dangled before Adam and Eve was a promise to be like God, who they were already. Being insecure in who they were already, they went after it and swallowed it. Like Jehoram, they eventually lost all that God had given them.

 

What a lesson for us today!

 

Every member of the human body is special and unique, specifically designed, thoroughly equipped, and strategically placed in the body to perform a unique function.

 

Likewise, in the body of Christ, every believer as a member of the body of Christ is special and unique in Christ. Each believer has a special place and unique gifting and calling in Christ.

 

Apostle Paul aptly explains this truth in his epistle to the Romans.

 

Romans 12:4-8 – NKJV

 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,

 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;

 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

Paul also writes to the Corinthians, “For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.” (1 Cor. 7:7 NKJV).

 

Insecurity is one of the significant causes of strife, envy, jealously, competition, division, or disunity we see today in our churches. Many believers today are not secure in their divine placement, calling, and gifting in the body of Christ. Consequently, they constantly compare their calling, ministry, and gifting with that of others and envying others.

 

Paul admonishes, “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.” (1 Cor. 7:20 NKJV).

 

Insecure people are always striving to be like others, have what others have, or do what others are doing. But when this is not possible, they will resort to hatred, bitterness, envy, jealously, criticism, slandering, or backbiting.

 

An insecure leader is always afraid or threatened by his followers’ success, gifting, or charisma.

 

A Christian leader who is insecure in his calling and position in Christ will go to any length to manipulate and dominate God’s people under his authority. He will employ every gimmick and the threat he can to subdue God’s people under his authority.

                                           

Friend, it is unwise to compare yourself with anyone or to strive to do what others are doing when God has not called and gifted you to do the same.

 

Your goal should be to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in your mind, speech, emotions, actions, or character. God called you to be like His Son, Jesus Christ, and not like any spiritual leader who is living or dead (Rom. 8:29, Eph. 4:11-13).

 

Paul writes, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (2 Cor. 10:12 NKJV).

 

Do you feel threatened or uncomfortable with other people’s successes, exploits, achievements, progress, promotion, gifting, dreams, or visions?

 

If you do, then you are insecure in who God has made you in Christ and in what God has called you to do!

 

As seen in the lives of Jehoram, Adam, and Eve, insecurity will ultimately result in pain, sorrow, loss, shame, or death.

 

Insecurity is an expression of the fallen, depraved, and sinful human nature. It always breeds hatred, envy, strife, competition, and all sorts of evil.

 

Are you an insecure person?

 

The first step to victory over the feelings of insecurity is to put off the old man (the depraved nature) and put on the new man (the divine nature) (Col. 3:9-10).

 

Insecurity is one of the manifestations or expressions of the old man. Insecurity is rooted in the old sinful nature you inherited from Adam through physical birth. Therefore, until you become a new creation in Christ, you cannot successfully deal with or overcome insecurity.

 

How do you achieve this?

 

Through the New Birth Experience!

 

You become a new creation by putting your faith in the person and finished work of Jesus, confessing Him as your Saviour and surrendering to Him as your Lord (Rom. 10:8-10).

 

Paul states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV).

 

Second, having become a new creation and thus a partaker of God’s holy and loving nature, you must seek to discover who you are and what you have in Christ.

 

Your new creation or born-again spirit is identical to Jesus Christ, for “he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Cor. 6:17 NKJV).

 

Therefore, as you grow in the grace and revelation knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will begin to discover your true identity in Christ, thereby becoming secure or confident in God’s unfailing love for you, in the person God has made you in Christ, and in your gifting, calling and placement in the body of Christ.

 

You will grow in the grace and revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ as you constantly behold His love, glory, power, kindness, patience, faithfulness, and wisdom in the mirror of God’s Word through the help of the Holy Spirit.

 

Beloved, the more you see Christ for who He is, the more you will see yourself for who you are in Christ and the more you will rejoice and be secure in who you are in Christ and what you have in Christ (2 Cor. 3:18, 2 Pet. 3:18).

 

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I am sorry for being insecure in my unique calling and gifting in Christ. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me grow daily in the grace and revelation of Jesus Christ so that I may become more secure in my identity and calling in Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen.