MARKET
BEATERS

Topics: Arrogance; Humility; Pride

References: Mark 9:33–37; Luke 18:10–14; Philippians 2:3

When researchers at Duke, Harvard, and Northwestern asked investors how their mutual funds performed last year compared with Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index, a third claimed their funds outperformed the market by at least 5 percent. One in six said their funds fared better by more than 10 percent.

However, a check of the portfolios of those claiming to have beaten the market showed that 88 percent had overestimated their earnings. The study discovered that some “market beaters” lagged between 5 and 15 percent behind the S&P. Said Don Moore of Northwestern, “Everybody wants to believe they’re better than average.”

Unfortunately, the same thing is true in the spiritual realm. It is human nature for us to look at our neighbors and conclude that we are more righteous.

—Rick Kauffman, “I’m Better,” PreachingToday.com