Last year, 2023, I was at Scotiabank in Calgary, Canada, for financial transactions, and was attracted by a poster bearing this advice, “Do more of what makes you, you.” As I carried out my transactions, I reflected on that statement. I asked myself, what are those thoughts, activities, habits, and services that God is using to make me the person he created me to be? What are those things that I love to do, even if others dislike doing them? I asked myself how I was spending the money God had placed in my hand.
I know people spend their money on things they consider necessary and important. The value that people place on their food, clothes, books, socialising with their friends and relations, travelling, and so on, varies. People have different priorities and desires. A colleague once asked me why I was spending my money on international conferences, instead of investing on landed properties as he was doing.
Today, I have realised that international travels have contributed to making me the person I am today. My good friend might have acquired some landed properties to make him what he is also. He is moving in his direction, while I am moving in my own. Really, there is no basis for comparison or competition. 2nd Corinthians 10:12-13 says; “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.”
Victoria Vanriole rightly said, “The only person you should try to be better than is who you were yesterday.” You must compare yourself with yourself and not with any other person. Ask yourself how you were yesterday, how you are today, and how you will be tomorrow. The truth is that you are steadily building yourself, or your life, through your thoughts, decisions, choices, activities, habits, and services.
As a child of God, you are building your life on a foundation which shall be laid before you were born.
We have been created for good works. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us.” We have been crafted by God, with skill and purpose, to fulfil His purpose. The poster at the bank is asking you, and me, are you doing more of those things that make you the person God created you to be? Are you becoming you? Remember that you are an original and unique person. There is no other you but you. Psalm 139:14 says, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God has created you wonderfully and given you special assignments. These assignments will make you do more of what makes you, you.
The moment you abandon your own assignment that makes you be yourself and start doing other people’s assignments, you lose your identity and miss your destiny. In doing more of what makes you to be you, you need to be improving on whatever you do on a daily basis. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your mind, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
In our company, Pharmanews, we always work to have an improved edition of our publication every month. This is where comparison is necessary. The current edition is compared with the previous one with the purpose of improvement. Our desire is to make the current edition better and richer and more profitable. This is the German philosophy of continuous and never-ending improvement (CANI). Improvement should be a continuous process in life. We do not compare ourselves with others because it makes no sense. We compare ourselves with ourselves. It is not a compliment to say that someone has not changed after many years.
The implication is that a person is not growing and developing, but a living thing cannot be static. Growth and development should manifest in all areas of life, spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, socioeconomic, and so on. I love 2 Peter 3:18 which says, “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” We are to grow and mature in our understanding and experience of the grace we have received. To enjoy a successful life, you must do more of what makes you you. You must know yourself and be yourself. You must be happy and satisfied with yourself. Never wish you were someone else. Never envy any person.
