Day 11: Compare

​God: “….you compare yourself to others instead of me…”

You’ve probably had a parent tell you at one time or another, “NO!  We’re not ‘keeping up with the Joneses!”  My chemistry professor’s last name was “jones,” but he dressed like a chemistry professor… there wasn’t a soul trying to keep up with him!  Why were my grandparents always using this phrase?  Because they realized that comparison is the death of contentment.

Say it out loud, right now:  Comparison is the death of contentment.

Did you know it is impossible for us to be happy and envious at the same time? And in this world of social media, television, and magazines if you DON’T struggle with feelings of envy,  you’re probably in the running to become a saint.  We all fall prey to comparison’s trap in one form or another.  We see everyone’s amazingly edited photos.  We note the perfect families online; the perfect churches on their facebook pages.  But no one ever posts about the struggles, they only post the highlights.  Somebody reading this email needs is going to find emotional release when you realize that you’ve been comparing your behind the scenes to everyone else’s highlight real!  STOP IT!   How?

Galatians 6:4:  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

You were created to be YOU, not someone else.  To compare myself to my brother is no different than comparing apples and oranges.  10 years ago when I started in bi-vocational ministry,  I wasted so much time trying to be my hero.  I dressed like him.  Talked like him.  And even tried to preach like him.  God seemed to be blessing him,  so I figured if God was going to bless me I had to be just like him.  When I would fall short,  I’d ask the question, “what does he have that I don’t?”  The answer:  INDIVIDUALITY! 

We often spend so much time trying to BE someone or something else, that we forget to be ourselves.  If I spent all my time being Pastor George or Pastor Greg, who was out there being Jon?   - Paul says to prove your own work.  Do your best!  1 Corinthians 10:31 –…whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God!  And if I’ve done my best,  I’ll have personal satisfaction.  Contentment.  Fulfillment in Christ.  I’m being chiseled into HIS image.  So rather than look like Joe,  I’m going to compare myself to the one I’m striving to look like.  JESUS.

Today’s Meditations:

1.  Comparison is the death of contentment
2.  Don’t compare my behind the scenes to everyone else’s highlight  real.