My wife has a favorite sermon: Dave Edwards’ message “THE SIN OF COMPARISON.” Twenty years ago she bought a copy on cassette and played it for years.[1]
Edward’s point was we need to stop comparing our lives to lives around us. Nothing will make you unhappy faster! We learn as children to measure ourselves by looking at our peers. Are my clothes as nice? Are my grades as high? Is my role on the sports team as good? Are my parents as cool? Does our family have as much money? Is my jewelry, car, house, farm, or vacation as nice? Adults compare jobs, spouses, children, education, talents, brains, hobbies—you name it. And social media increases the problem. In fact, for some people social media serves only one purpose: a forum to comparison-shop every aspect of your family against those of all your friends—and non-friends.
What was remarkable about Dave’s sermon may be that he bluntly called comparison a sin. I’m not sure we had ever thought about it that way before.
Is comparing your circumstances and status normal? Absolutely. It is the most natural thing in the world. As children we constantly compare everything with brothers and sisters, fighting over who got more pie, a better seat in the car, the top bunk on vacation, better Christmas presents, and on and on. That is normal and not entirely bad—it helps children learn sharing, fairness, and conflict resolution.
But we sin when we over-compare, and it makes us unhappy, ungrateful, and mad at God.
Jesus told a parable about a landowner who hired workers for his vineyard at dawn, 9, noon, 3, and 5 pm, then paid them all the same. Those who worked all day naturally felt cheated. However, the man paid those who worked all day a full day’s pay. They were only mad because he was so generous to the others.
“You made them equal to us, who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!” Matthew 20:12. I agree with them. But the landowner has a right to run his business as he sees fit.
“I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this man the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my business? Are you jealous because I’m generous?” Matthew 20:13-15.
Is that you? Are you angry when God is more generous with other people than He is with you?
Yes, one friend is better looking. Another more athletic. A third has more money. And a fourth has all of the above and a whole lot more. Face it: when you compare yourself to others, you will NEVER be happy.
What God gives you is His business.
Doesn’t He have a right to do what He wants with His business? He does. You serve King Jesus. He is the Sovereign King. You are the king’s servant.
Stop comparing! Take your eyes off the lives of others and COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. Spend more time every day praying prayers of thankfulness. You will never be thankful enough. You should never run out of words of thanksgiving to God. And nothing will make you happier than a heart filled with the genuine gratitude born out of prayers of thanks.
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[1] Dave Edwards is now a Pastor of Discipleship at Church Project in the Woodlands, Texas.
Dad's Daily Devotional 