You Are Unique The Way You Are.

I went out with a Pastor some time ago and the Pastor of the Church we went to minister in made us go to his house before the meeting started. When we got talking, one of them said "God has not called us to be Successful but to be Faithful". This statement got me thinking. Before I could understand it, he continued by saying " At the end of the day, God will say to you, welcome, my faithful servant and not my successful servant". I was really taken aback because of the statement.
Later, I realised the gravity of that statement and I got insights into those statements. One of the understandings I got was that a faithful man to God is a successful person, while a successful man may not be a faithful man. God wants all of us to succeed in life and in the work of our hands. However, so many people are successful but not through the right ways and just a few through the right ways.

Being successful has become a do or die affair. People will do any thing to become successful in their endeavours and careers. This has led many to stealing, cheating, lying, etc. It also leads to competition, insecurity, unhealthy rivalry, envy, jealousy, insecurity and so on. This has destroyed many people, families, churches, Pastors, etc. If Mr. A does some thing, Mr B must to it. If He buys a Car, House, Clothes, Mr B will buy the same. We need to check out our motives of buying a car if it is out of competition or rivalry.
Every body is unique and our purpose in life is unique. We all have different callings in life. So, why are you trying to be like someone else? No wonder you have always been the second best all your life. If you are a Pastor, Christian, Singer, teacher, etc, you should realise that your gifts are unique. You don't need to walk, speak like, dress like, preach like, do things like the other person because you and your gifts, callings, ministry, are unique from that of the other person.
Col 4:17 says " And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it". This shows that Archippus' ministry was unique to him. It was specifically given to him by the Lord. The scripture says that he should take heed and pay attention to the ministry given to him so that he can fulfil it. This scripture is also applicable to all of us. You may not be a Pastor, Preacher or Banker, but you have your own purpose and destiny in life. You don't need to be like someone else because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. If it is not Panadol, it can't be like Panadol.

Furthermore, instead of killing yourself over others, you should tell yourself that you are unique the way you are. Also, you need to help yourself by having the interest of others at heart instead of being jealous of them. Phi 2: 3-4 says, " 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others,  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus .

This is the mind of Jesus Christ and we all need to have that same mind. We need to appreciate others and their successes. Also, we need to have their interest at heart instead of being jealous of them and their achievements. We should see them as better off than ourselves in the areas of their strength and learn from them, instead of competing with them. We all should be faithful where we have been positioned in life and that will bring success to us instead of trying to be like, to emulate, to have what they have and do what they do. Being faithful to your call, vision and purpose will make you achieve a lot than being trying to be like someone else and becoming their second best in life. Wilson Ileogben