Comparison --The Killer of Joy
- Nov 29, 2017
- 3 min read
Have you ever looked at someone, and even for a moment, been envious of something they had whether it be their outfit, flawless hair, eye color, or even a characteristic that they seemed to have? Have you ever looked at someone and instantly compare yourself to them and what they had versus what you wish you had?
Me too.
Sometimes I look at people and envy the fact that they have straight hair, or how they seem so cool, or how many likes they have on Instagram.
Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and instantly think about the thing you don’t like about yourself rather than the things you do? That’s not what God has called us to do. God wants us to look in the mirror and remember that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” (Psalm 139:14) and that we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27.) If we pick out the flaws in ourselves then not only are we saying that God did a bad job of creating us, but that the image of God is flawed, since we are created in His image.
Do you ever envy people for other, deeper things? Like the depth of their spiritual maturity, their intelligence, their circumstances or even their struggles?
“For everyone is facing a battle you know nothing about.” –Plato
Everyone’s battles are unique to them. If you were facing someone else’s battle, it may not be a battle for you. You were given your own unique talents and gifts to use to serve others (1 Peter 4:10.)
Comparison kills our joy. It makes us boast of our own things to make us feel better and makes us be envious of what we don’t have.
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 1 Corinthians 4:7
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
You cannot please the world at the same time as pleasing God. You cannot be boastful of the things you have received because you were given those things, you did nothing to deserve them. Just as you cannot be envious of talents, strengths or gifts that God has gifted to others.
It might look like on the surface that everyone has it all together but that’s just not true. You have no idea what they’re struggling with or what else is going on in their life, so there is no sense in being envious.
“Don’t compete with the runner next to you. Just try and finish your own race.” –Rick Warren
Comparison kills joy. It takes the blessings and gifts we were given and it makes us jealous and envious of what others have instead. That’s not how God created things to be. We were each given unique talents and skills that are meant to equip us to handle our own circumstances.
So, go out this week, and be happy with what you have. Don’t look at others in envy and don’t be boastful for the things you have!
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