One-Up or Build Up?

... encourage each other and build each other up. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

            “My grandpa was a rocket scientist,” my friend Derek informed me. “He invented things that go to the moon.” I thought about that for a minute. What had my family done that was as impressive as that? Suddenly, it dawned on me and I blurted out, “My great uncle invented cheese whiz!” My friend stared at me for a moment trying to grasp if I was serious, and finally burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Once I thought about it, I had to agree that it was kind of funny. After all, his grandpa had invented a rocket, while my claim to fame was a relation who had invented spreadable cheese. I must admit, I sounded rather puny in comparison.

My whole life I’ve always found myself trying to one-up people.  Someone would say, “My daddy’s a doctor.” Of course, I had to counter them. “My daddy was a football player, and then he was an air force pilot. Beat that!”

Why is it that whenever someone states something good about themselves, I feel the need to counter it with something better about myself? In my selfish heart I always feel the need to build myself up to be better than those around me. I think that it makes me look better in others’ eyes, when in reality it merely makes me appear self-absorbed and insecure.

Instead of constantly breaking each other down, shouldn’t we be building each other up? When Jesus was on earth, He didn’t seek fame and glory for Himself. He was the most humble, down-to-earth man ever to walk the earth, and we are to follow in His footsteps.