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When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” John 21:21 (NIV)

After Jesus tells Peter what lies in store for him, Peter’s immediate reaction is to ask what the future holds for John.

It is hard to say precisely what Peter was thinking. Perhaps he was concerned about fairness: “Well, I don’t mind suffering, as long as I’m not the only one. What about John?” Peter was capable of this, just like we are.

If Jesus calls you to walk through a painful trial, your first instinct will be to look at others around you and say, Why me? Why my child? Why my wife? Why my ministry?

Notice Jesus’ answer: “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” (21:22).

Jesus is telling Peter to mind his own business. In other words, “What I have planned for John isn’t any of your business. What is that to you?”

We need to hear this question, because we find ourselves wanting to make comparisons. We need to hear Jesus saying, “What is that to you? You must follow me.”

You need to hear Jesus asking this question when you go to your 10, 20, and/or 30-year college reunion. “Look at the opportunity that opened up for him. How come that never happened for me? Look at his wife. Look at her husband. Look at their lifestyle. Look at what happened to his company. Look at what happened to their ministry.”

Comparisons will lead you into pride, or into envy. When you find yourself comparing your life with others, you need to hear Jesus’ question: “What is that to you? You must follow me.”

What do other people have that you wish was yours? Is it their looks? Their marriage? Their gifts? Their position? Their children? Their health? Their ministry?