Comparison... social media has made it a part of what we consider every day.
We see others' lives on Facebook and Instagram. Not their complete warts-and-all lives, but the highlight reel. The best moments, the perfect Christmases, the vacations to exotic places that the rest of us have only ever seen on the National Geographic Channel.
We don't see the money problems, the ugly crying jags, the backed-up dunny.
And while what we see seems real, what we don't see...well, 'I don't know and I don't care, if I can't see it, it isn't there.'
So we compare our lives with the imagined lives we see, and we come off the worse...and thus Satan leads us into sin.
Specifically, when we compare ourselves negatively we're practicing jealousy, and jealousy translates into covetousness. We want what our neighbour has... maybe not enough to try to take it, but enough to wonder Why Her And Not Me?
Exodus 20:17 “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.”
Personally, I don't covet anyone's ass. Mine is still quite tight, thank you very much...which leads me to the flip side of covetousness.
It's easy to go the other way, and disdain those who present a sanitized picture of their lives.
'I'm better than that.'
And thus the devil has you, going either way, with covetousness, or pride.
From the 18th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke:
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
What to do?
Just be you, put aside the comparison, and know that God made you for the life you have.
From Psalm 139...
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
You are beyond compare.
Music from Bon Jovi, with We Weren't Born To Follow
Sylvia won't follow anyone, unless they have ice cream.
Yeah, for sure. The enemy of our souls knows what buttons to push and when. And one person's downfall can be different than the next one's. But 'greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world.'
ReplyDeleteAnd therein is our victory!
Linda, you're so right, that vulnerabilities are very individual. And, thankfully, Greater Is He!
DeleteSome days we're the Publican and some days we're the Pharisee. Either way, we need Jesus every day.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, yes, absolutely!
DeleteThese are great truths. We fall into comparison so easily, when the Bible clearly tells us not to.
ReplyDeleteMy post today is on a similar, or maybe parallel track--when someone else is chosen for the position or opportunity we want. Instead of being jealous, we can be content in what God has chosen for us to do.
Barbara, you're right. God's promotion is the only one that's meaningful.
DeleteComparisons just don't turn out well for us. We either end up feeling less than or more than, neither of which is a healthy option.
ReplyDeleteLisa I, I love the way you put this...'comparisons just don't turn out well for us.' Perfect!
DeleteSylvia clearly has her priorities straight!
ReplyDeleteMichele, Syl is pleased at your agreement.
DeleteI’ve been talking to Jesus about this very thing. I had to confess to a friend. It’s a real thing jealousy and covetousness. It’s ugly and awful to confess. But when we confess, and repent, Jesus delights to wash us clean. And we are purified.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrew.
Thank YOU...and I've been talking to The J about comparison, as well.
DeleteOne holiday when I couldn't get my family of four to agree on a movie I opened Facebook and saw a relative's family posting all these "I have the best family" posts. I mentioned it to my relative later. She laughed. "That followed a big explosion. We've had to ban competitive games for a while."
ReplyDeleteDebbie, thank you for sharing this. Terrific!
DeleteLove this post Andrew. It's so very true.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also love that I've finally found the link to the Tell His Story site you started hosting.
I'm so glad you're here, Grams!
DeleteMay the Lord help us to refuse pride, jealousy, and every evil way, Andrew! Only He can save us and sustain us!
ReplyDeleteLisa, yes. Only with Him can we make it through.
DeleteAgree Andrew. Andy Stanley calls it the Comparison Trap. And the enemy loves it when we compare ourselves to others. But the Lord doesn't create cookie-cutter people-all of us are wonderfully created by the Master Artist. Karen Friday
ReplyDeleteKaren, yes, absolutely. God made us individuals...and who are we to compare?
DeleteHere it is, to covet or to be prideful by comparing. I love- just be ourselves because God wonderfully made each of us.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, thank you for this. As Kermit the Frog sang, it's not easy being green...but for him, and for the world, it was worthwhile.
DeleteVery true.
ReplyDeleteLove "Just be you, put aside the comparison, and know that God made you for the life you have."