"Comparison is the thief of joy!" I've heard this quote more times than I can count. But y'all, it is so true. It is not credited to an influential church leader or pastor. These words were spoken by the 26th President of the United States. A national leader whose most notable philosophy was to "speak softly and carry a big stick." And I think he was on to something.
It is so easy to get caught up in the world and all that it has to offer. As humans, we are largely susceptible to focusing on the lives that others are living and give up on our own. They have "it," which is always the culprit. "It" may be a friend, phone, vehicle, personality trait, job, family member, word of praise, house, relationship, bank account balance, social status, or opportunity. The list could go on and on forever. You may not even realize what "it" is, but your heart and mind certainly do! You may be able to trick one or the other, but you cannot trick both.
As Christ-followers, we should strive to be good stewards of our bodies, abilities, and possessions that we are blessed with. These are all from Him, used for His glory, and part of His divine purpose! However, sometimes we misuse these or idolize their existence, or lack thereof. Sometimes we think that the more wealth, popularity, or power we can acquire, the better. It's not wrong to have a nice car, a big house, or a substantial income. These are good, useful things on this earth. But sometimes we can get so focused on increasing our worldly kingdom, that we neglect to expand and glorify His eternal Kingdom! That isn't God's hope for us; it is so much bigger than that. "You will never know the fullness of Christ until you have known the emptiness of everything else but Christ!" There are so many things in this world that can provide temporary happiness but never long-term satiety. The only thing you can take with you to Heaven is another soul.
For Christians, God is our source. Everything else is merely a resource. Dependence on Him doesn't look like storing excessive manna (or provisions) when we think He's not looking. It may seem smart. The catch: God's abilities and masterpieces transcend any intelligence or "thinking ahead" possible on our part. Dependence on Him means taking only what we need for now. Holding on to that grace and peace needed for the moment. Taking just enough and knowing that He will be faithful to provide in the tomorrow.
The tomorrow of your family. The tomorrow of your life goals.
The tomorrow of your marriage. The tomorrow of your education.
The tomorrow of your career. The tomorrow of your dreams.
I encourage you to not live life glancing hesitantly to your right and left. At him or her. At what they have or what they are doing. Go forward each day like a determined racehorse with blinders on. [Side note: I am not a horse expert by any means. If you're wondering why horses wear blinders, it is a means of preventing them from becoming distracted by what is happening beside them, and to avoid them becoming panicked by what they see around them.] Keep your eyes on your goal (ultimately, Christ). Stay in your lane. This is your individual race that God has created and set before you before He even created you! It won't match everyone else's. If you're trying to run their race from your land, you will struggle and never win. That is because it's their story, not yours. And that's all right!
Your individual story is full of innately crafted complex "webs" formed by the One who created every single trillionth cell in your functioning body and it is beautiful, unique, and special! He does not make mistakes, we do. He does not lose faith, we do. We do not have to compare ourselves to everyone else. Instead, we should measure ourselves in respect to His holy standard and righteousness. His perfection is unattainable for our human selves but it is unchanging, and it is holy, and it is just!
When we strive for this, we are free! Free to live our lives with a liberty and joy that is otherwise elusive. Free from the chains of comparison, jealousy, doubt, guilt, and inadequacy. Free from being faced with immense feelings of failure, regret, frustration, and imperfection. Free and forgiven.
So I think I'll have to agree with Roosevelt. I do not know if he meant this in a spiritual sense, but I believe there is a lot of truth in it. Even one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis, says something of a similar sense. He says, "Comparison is the death of joy." He goes on to say in The Great Divorce, "No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. To those who knock, it is opened." So think, is comparison stealing your joy? It's not worth it! But it's up to you. Because you are beautiful, wonderful, and loved!
[Picture: https://quotefancy.com/quote/33048/Theodore-Roosevelt-Comparison-is-the-thief-of-joy]
As Christ-followers, we should strive to be good stewards of our bodies, abilities, and possessions that we are blessed with. These are all from Him, used for His glory, and part of His divine purpose! However, sometimes we misuse these or idolize their existence, or lack thereof. Sometimes we think that the more wealth, popularity, or power we can acquire, the better. It's not wrong to have a nice car, a big house, or a substantial income. These are good, useful things on this earth. But sometimes we can get so focused on increasing our worldly kingdom, that we neglect to expand and glorify His eternal Kingdom! That isn't God's hope for us; it is so much bigger than that. "You will never know the fullness of Christ until you have known the emptiness of everything else but Christ!" There are so many things in this world that can provide temporary happiness but never long-term satiety. The only thing you can take with you to Heaven is another soul.
For Christians, God is our source. Everything else is merely a resource. Dependence on Him doesn't look like storing excessive manna (or provisions) when we think He's not looking. It may seem smart. The catch: God's abilities and masterpieces transcend any intelligence or "thinking ahead" possible on our part. Dependence on Him means taking only what we need for now. Holding on to that grace and peace needed for the moment. Taking just enough and knowing that He will be faithful to provide in the tomorrow.
The tomorrow of your family. The tomorrow of your life goals.
The tomorrow of your marriage. The tomorrow of your education.
The tomorrow of your career. The tomorrow of your dreams.
Your individual story is full of innately crafted complex "webs" formed by the One who created every single trillionth cell in your functioning body and it is beautiful, unique, and special! He does not make mistakes, we do. He does not lose faith, we do. We do not have to compare ourselves to everyone else. Instead, we should measure ourselves in respect to His holy standard and righteousness. His perfection is unattainable for our human selves but it is unchanging, and it is holy, and it is just!
When we strive for this, we are free! Free to live our lives with a liberty and joy that is otherwise elusive. Free from the chains of comparison, jealousy, doubt, guilt, and inadequacy. Free from being faced with immense feelings of failure, regret, frustration, and imperfection. Free and forgiven.
[Picture: https://quotefancy.com/quote/33048/Theodore-Roosevelt-Comparison-is-the-thief-of-joy]