It was time for me to take the dreaded calculus class that I had feared for nearly a year!

Despite my success in science, I'd never been great at math. As the date of the first exam drew near, I grew increasingly nervous about getting a good grade. I studied for hours every night, but the material still seemed so confusing.

I finished the exam with about as much confidence as a gazelle standing in front of a hungry lion. Then after days of anxious anticipation, the teacher finally posted the results. Somehow I had mustered a B!

The curve

Studying the class scores to make sure that I'd read it right, it suddenly hit me. Because the entire class had struggled on the exam, the teacher had graded on a curve. This meant that if our class average was a D, then the average score would be readjusted upward to a C. That way more of us could get a better grade.

As the class went on, I realized that "the curve" was becoming an easy way out for some of my classmates. Instead of working hard and studying, they figured that they didn't even need to try. After all, their grades would get bumped up anyway.

As long as they avoided the bottom of the ladder (which was usually occupied by people who didn't even show up for the exam), chances were good that they would at least get a passing grade. They were measuring their success based on everyone else's performance, hoping that others would do just a little worse than they did.

Comparison

If we're not careful, this way of thinking can take over our lives. It's called comparison.

Instead of evaluating ourselves based on how our own actions stack up to God's standards, we simply compare how we're doing with those around us. This is a dangerous pattern. Instead of striving to do the right thing, we focus on not doing the "worst" thing.

Jesus once told a revealing parable. Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a member of a religiously strict Jewish sect (called the Pharisees) and the other was a despised tax collector. Instead of seeking forgiveness for his own wrongs, the smug Pharisee thanked God that he was not as bad as the other guy. Not the attitude that God wants us to have (see Luke 18:9-14)!

God doesn't grade on a curve

Our Creator clearly explains the rules that He gave us to live by—the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20). Also check out the handy study guide, "God's Color Guard."

Though many people consider the Ten Commandments just a restrictive list of "don'ts," actually God's commandments are always for our benefit. They allow us to lead happier, healthier and more successful lives. God is pleased when we take responsibility for our own actions, strive to do what He says and humbly ask Him for forgiveness when we do make mistakes.

Jesus Christ doesn't want us to compare ourselves to others—He wants us to ignore the curve and study and pray so we can pass the test! VT