This brings me to a scene in the Gospel of John that I have revisited countless times in my professional career. In John 21, the Apostle Peter is having a career-defining performance review with Jesus. He has just been restored, given a specific commission ("Feed my sheep"), and told explicitly how his tenure will end - essentially, that he will be martyred. It is a heavy, profound moment of instruction. Yet, almost immediately, Peter turns around, sees the disciple John following them, and asks, "Lord, what about him?" It is the ancient equivalent of asking, "Does he get the same severance package? Does he have to suffer the same market downturns I do?" I appreciate Jesus’ response because it isn't a theological dissertation; it’s a management directive. He effectively says, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me."
In my line of work, we talk a lot about "scope creep" - when a project expands beyond its original boundaries, consuming resources and destroying focus. Peter was experiencing spiritual scope creep. He was attempting to manage John’s outcome rather than executing his own assignment. Jesus’ rebuke was a reminder that Peter did not have the clearance - nor the capacity - to understand the narrative arc of John’s life. When I look sideways at my colleague’s corporate success, I am trying to overlay his "scope of work" onto my life. It doesn't fit. The metrics are different. My calling as a freelancer requires a dependence on God for daily bread that a salaried position might not demand in the same way. If I judge my current season of lean faith-building against his season of harvest, I will always come up with a deficit. Comparison acts as a data corruption error; it distorts the clear instructions I have already received.
To navigate this, I’ve had to implement strict operational protocols for my spiritual life, much like I do for my client work. I realized that treating my walk with God like a competitive marketplace was destroying my ability to produce anything of value. If you find yourself doom-scrolling through other people's blessings - whether it's career milestones, ministry growth, or family highlights - you need a hard reset. Here is how I now handle the "Comparison Scroll" to get back to the work actually assigned to me:
- Audit Your Inputs: When I feel the envy spike, I don't just pray it away; I close the tab. I physically remove the stimulus. If LinkedIn is causing me to question God's goodness, I fast from the platform. You cannot maintain focus on your "deliverables" if you are constantly staring at someone else's screen.
- Define Your Own KPIs (Key Performance Indicators): Success in the Kingdom isn't a one-size-fits-all metric. My "success" right now is defined by faithfulness in uncertainty, not a bi-weekly paycheck. I write down what God has explicitly asked me to do this week. If I check those boxes, I am successful, regardless of what my peers are achieving.
- Trust the Project Manager: The core of Jesus' command - "What is that to you?" - is a call to trust His sovereignty. He knows exactly which "employee" needs which type of development. He knows I need the solitude of freelancing to break my pride, just as He knows my friend needs the corporate environment for his specific sanctification.
The Shepherd does not consult the sheep on how to lead the flock. My job is not to analyze the pasture next door; it is to keep my eyes locked on the One leading me through this specific valley. When I stay in my lane and focus on my own walk, the envy dissipates, replaced by the peace of knowing I am exactly where I was hired to be.
