In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30) Jesus gave a parable of one servant that doubled his talents from 5 to 10 and another that doubled his talents from 2 to 4. In the parable the Lord told both of the servants, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee a ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” The Lord did not compare one servant to the other. The Lord did not love one servant more than the other. Both servants were equal in the eyes of the Lord.

We often compare ourselves to those with greater talents then us. We think that because their area of expertise comes easier to them than it does us that God is happier with them. We compare ourselves to them and think that if we could reach their level that we would be happy.

In the parable of the talents, both servants achieved the same level of joy and a different level of achievement. It is because happiness doesn’t come from obtaining an abstract level of achievement that we see in others. Happiness comes as we grow ourselves. The servant with two talents grew his personal best by doubling his talents. The servant with 5 talents grew her personal best by doubling her talent. God doesn’t care who you are in comparison to someone else, He cares that you grow you into your best self.