The thief of joy

It’s easy to compare our lives to the lives of others and social media even encourages it. Someone said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” The danger of comparison is that it can lead us to feelings of anxiety, inadequacy and dissatisfaction. One minute we can be happy and grateful but then we see a social media post that makes us doubt our previous assessment. We look at the snapshot and start to wonder why others look happier, seem smarter, more successful and seemingly just have an overall better life. Listen, can we talk? All of that smells like smoke and comes from the pit of Hell. When we compare the life God has given us with the life of our neighbor or coworker, we are comparing apples and oranges.

God tells us in Galatians 6:4, “Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won’t need to compare himself with someone else.” Somehow when I read that I hear Jesus saying, “You do you and don’t worry about others.”

I think the antidote to comparing our lives to others is Philippians 4:11. The Apostle Paul tells us to be content (satisfied) with what we have and where we are at in life. This is about faith in the Lord. We need contentment to catalyze our trust in the Lord as we practice 1st Corinthians 7:17 that says, “Let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.”

Life is not a race. It’s not one big competition. Job 1:21 reminds us that God gives and God takes away. If we have less it’s okay (that’s being content) and if others have more, that’s okay too.

The battle really is in our heads. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks so he is.” Because of that the Lord is good to tell us to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).”

If you ever want to see how you are doing (and it’s good to measure) Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “look to Jesus.” Are you loving others like Jesus, forgiving others like Jesus, cutting people slack like Jesus, are you generous, kind, humble, compassionate, a servant leader like Jesus? He’s your example.

The struggle is real. But why don’t we struggle as hard with things like the Great Commission, sharpening others, using our spiritual gift(s), being the church gathered, giving accurately? What’s up with that? I guess priorities matter. That’s another sermon.

He told me to tell you that.