You’re Not Good Enough for God (or Better Than Anyone Else)

WHAT YOU AREN’T - Chapter 6

Let’s start with the obvious. 

God is holy. 

I’m not. 

(Neither are you.)

Yes, we were made in God’s image, but - unlike God - we are flawed. We act selfishly, speak impulsively, make lousy decisions, lie/lust/lose our cool/lash out. The list goes on. And on.

Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory. (Romans 3:23, NIRV)

Not a single soul.

There’s not one totally good person on earth, not one who is truly pure and sinless. (Ecclesiastes 7:20, MSG)

Daily - no, hourly - I screw up, fall down, act out, give in... to all sorts of temptations and (mostly self-made) traps. Arrogance, outrage, envy, grousing, gossip, gluttony. (*Note to self: do not celebrate every birthday/holiday/wedding with such wild abandon. One dessert will do. And your gut will thank you later.)

When my heart is soft and my mind is still, my thoughts turn to that cutting remark, my ugly impatience, the glory grab or careless dismissal, a bitter grudge, my false humility or appalling apathy. Not to mention my little white - or big bold-faced - lies and foolish pride and relentless self-absorption and stubborn refusal to show a little mercy... or shake off an offense... or share more than just my extras. Nearly everywhere I look, every single day, I'm culpable. How can I - still - be so stuck in my muck?

The truth hurts.

I am broken, bound, laid bare.

I can't fix myself or free myself or cover myself up with nice clothes or good deeds.

I'm toast.

Dust.

And ashes.

We are unfit to worship you; each of our good deeds is merely a filthy rag. We dry up like leaves; our sins are storm winds sweeping us away. (Isaiah 64:6, CEV)

When I take time to reflect, to let God search my heart, I ache with sadness and sorry. I fall at the feet of Jesus - who held all my heinous ugly as He hung bloody on that cross - and ask forgiveness for the umpteenth time.

Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. (Psalm 51:17, The Message)

He sees me...in all my disgrace. Begging for His good grace.

And He tenderly obliges, yet again. He rains mercy on me. Showers me with lovingkindness. Soaks me in Living Water.

Oh, how I adore Him.

O, come, let us adore Him.

The truth is, none of us is “good enough” for God. And none of us is “better than” anyone else either. 

The person who thinks they’re “above” another is - quite simply - deluded.

We were all made in God’s brilliant, beautiful image. 

God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them. (~ Genesis 1:27, CEB)

(No exceptions.)

And we are all disfigured by our selfishness, shortcomings, and sin.

(Again, no exceptions.)

The truth is, God loves us all perfectly, completely, endlessly. 

God doesn’t have any favorites! (Romans 2:11, CEV)

He couldn’t love us any more than He already does… and nothing we could ever do or say will make Him love us any less. 

God treats everyone the same. (Romans 2:11, NIRV)

And we should, too.

My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won't treat some people better than others. Suppose a rich person wearing fancy clothes and a gold ring comes to one of your meetings. And suppose a poor person dressed in worn-out clothes also comes. You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor. This is the same as saying that some people are better than others, and you would be acting like a crooked judge. (James 2:1-4, CEV)

How we treat people (family, friends, coworkers, clerks, enemies) matters. And how we “present” ourselves matters, too. In person… and online.

Social media is the world’s biggest comparison game. And comparison can be a killer.

We can pose and preen and post our best and most beautiful moments (with the most alluring backdrops and best lighting) and filter/photoshop the heck out of them. And then watch - self-satisfied and smug - as the likes and comments roll in.

As if to say, “My life is shinier/sexier/happier/better than yours.” 

But is it true?

Do you really want to play that comparison game? I’ve done it a time or two. (Thousand.) It’s exhausting. And it doesn’t get me anywhere. 

I wasn’t put here to compete. And neither were you. We were put here to… love.

Love God.

Love people. 

Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39, TLB)

Who’s your neighbor? 

Every single human on the planet. 

Love him/her/them. 

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:9-18, NLT)

Everyone.

That includes the ones that don't look like you, live like you, think like you, vote like you. 

And the ones that just don't like you, period. 

Love them all. 

Even the people whose rhetoric perplexes/perturbs/inflames/infuriates you.

If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that... 

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:32-38, The Message)

Simple. (But not always easy.)

Start here: 

Be loved.

We love because God first loved us. (1 John 4:19, CEB)

Soak up his love… and then you can start splashing it all around.

That’s the main thing, the real thing, the best thing.

The Gospel - in a word - is…

Love.

Text copyright © 2026 by Wendy Beth Holtz