2 Corinthians 10:12 — For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Before I start, let me just say that I might have to miss a day or two this week. I have some business meetings that seem like they might be starting early and ending late, leaving me very little time to write!
God does not grade on the curve. In fact He doesn’t really grade at all. With Him, it’s pass/fail. “Did you accept my Son as Lord and Savior, or not?”
Unfortunately, we people are not like that. We are always comparing ourselves with each other. I’ve got to admit I do it myself, all the time. “That guy is such a good Christian”… “That man is so much smarter than I am” … I could go on all night identifying people who are better than me, in one way or another. But that would be a mistake.
The Apostle Paul has a point of view on comparison. Basically, “don’t!” In this passage he’s talking about “teachers” who were comparing themselves (favorably, of course) with him, but the principles apply generally. People often seem to gain and exercise influence over others comparing themselves to those with a legitimate claim. This is particularly foolish when the authority being claimed is spiritual authority. There is only one source of spiritual authority, and He isn’t about to give it to those who compare themselves with legitimate leaders and elect themselves to higher positions!
Of course, Paul goes further. It’s as if he says: “Look, if you must compare yourself, at least pick a decent standard — don’t just compare yourself with yourself!” It’s great advice. Looking in a mirror will show me nobody who looks any better than I do — and nobody who looks any worse either. If you must compare, at least look up! If you do, you do run the risk of feeling silly. As Calvin says of the silly teachers Paul was dealing with, “if they had compared themselves with Paul, or any one like him, they would have felt constrained to lay aside immediately that foolish impression which they entertained, and would have exchanged boasting for shame.”
But really, don’t compare. There’s God and His standards, and there’s the rest of us and the way we are. It doesn’t matter how good we are, or how bad, between us and God there is no comparison!