From birth, a baby is compared to his immediate family to see whom he resembles. As he grows up, his achievements are compared with those of other pupils in his class, school, state, or nation. His formal education completed, the individual now finds his accomplishments being compared with those of his associates and co-workers or with his own past record. All these comparisons deal with man as if he were a mortal; they compare him to other mortals and judge him by mortal measurements.

What is the result? If the comparison is favorable, it can lead to a feeling of superiority, personal accomplishment, and pride. If unfavorable, it may lead to a feeling of inferiority and discouragement.

Mrs. Eddy has given us the correct standard for comparison. She does not define man as a mortal but holds that God made man, and that man is the image and likeness of God, hence spiritual. In describing the real identity of each one of us she uses the illustration of a person in front of a mirror. She says in Science and Health: "Now compare man before the mirror to his divine Principle, God. Call the mirror divine Science, and call man the reflection. Then note how true, according to Christian Science, is the reflection to its original." ^{Science and Health, pp. 515, 516;}

What is this God to whom man is to be compared? He is all-inclusive, infinite Being, hence like Himself only. There is nothing outside infinity, so there is nothing external to Deity with which to compare Him. Isaiah asked, "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?" ^{Isa. 40:18;} Mrs. Eddy answers this question in Miscellaneous Writings, where she states, "God is like Himself and like nothing else." And she continues, "His character admits of no degrees of comparison." ^{Mis., p. 102;}

If we can accept the statement that man is made in the image and likeness of God, we can see that we really are the reflections of this all-inclusive God. We can be compared only to our source.

Should poor grades tempt us to compare ourselves unfavorably with the other members of our class, we can turn our thoughts of comparison to God. This comparison reveals man expressing the illimitable and ever-present intelligence and comprehension of Mind. If we feel that our teammates or our opponents are able to play the game better than we do, we can turn to God and see that we have the unfailing strength of Spirit and the vital spontaneity and activity of Life. Should we think that we are not as good looking as our friends, we can learn that as the image and likeness of Soul we reflect all beauty and the power of expressing it. We are sons of God, and nothing can separate us from Him. When we know these truths, we can bring our lives into line with them.

All of God's children reflect His completeness. Every Godlike quality is universal and equally available to all, regardless of age, sex, nationality, or color. If someone or something tries to tell us that we are inferior or superior, are we going to believe the lie? In comparing man to God there can be no grounds for a feeling of personal achievement. Supposing that good grades may have caused us to think that, having a mind of our own, better than that of our classmates, we have accomplished something by ourselves, we should remember that Christ Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." ^{John 5:19.}

All action originates in God. Man reflects this action. We act because God acts, not because we have originated and executed something on our own. A reflection can only do what its original does.

Though we all reflect the same God, yet each expression is, of necessity, individual, for God includes infinite individuality. There never has been, nor will there ever be, a duplication among God's ideas. We all reflect the same divine qualities, but each one expresses them in his own individual way.

Knowing that our source of good is infinite and individual, we will never be jealous of the success of another but joyously cherish good whenever and wherever we see it expressed. We can enjoy the good whether we are the doer or the beholder.

A high school student was running for president of the student body. Winning the election seemed terribly important to her. However, Christian Science freed her from comparing herself and her qualifications with those of other people. She knew that there was no competition for good, because God, infinite good, is omnipresent for all to reflect. Each one reflects this good in his own individual way, and he does not take good from another or prevent anyone from reflecting it in the way best suited to him.

The election day came, and the student lost. Instead of being upset, she remained happy and at peace. As soon as the results were posted, the head of the English department sought her out to ask her to be editor of the yearbook. As she could not be both president of the student body and editor of the yearbook, this teacher had decided to say nothing till after the election. This student was planning to go on to college and major in English and journalism, so to be editor of the yearbook was what she would have chosen had it been possible to have the choice of the two positions offered to her.

When we refuse to compare ourselves with mortals or with material standards and instead make our comparisons with God and His infinite goodness, we find that all good is ours already and forever.