THE THIEF OF EVERYTHING

com·par·i·son: an examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities <his faults seem minor by comparison>

As I’ve thought through the statement I made at a talk I did last week, I’ve been keeping a running list in my head of the things that are stolen from us when we compare ourselves to others. It’s self-sabotaging, destructive, and detrimental to our health. I’d like to say that I’m never guilty of this. I’d really like to say that.

The following is the list; feel free to comment if there are things I have not encompassed. These are just the ones I do:

COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF:

Contentment – wanting what we have. When we compare what we have to someone who has “more”, it will lead to dissatisfaction and restlessness. You will never attain perfection in any part of your life. Ever, trust me.

Truth – comparing blurs the truth. If we see who we are as not as good as someone else, we are guilty of a lie. God has created us in His image. How can that be not as good as someone else?

Humility – I’m certain I’m the only one who does this, but when we compare ourselves to those that we think are better moms, wives, workers, whatever-the-thing-is, we build ourselves up in order to compete. Well, she might be … but hey I’M …

Dependence – in our humanness we work harder, strive to be better, be MORE in an attempt to accomplish THE THINGS we need to in order to measure up to … (fill in the blank). God wants dependence on Him, not ourselves. Self-confidence robs us of an opportunity to know Him and His wisdom. His faithfulness. His provision.

Confidence – we simply CANNOT have true confidence in who we are created to be if we are constantly holding ourselves up to someone else. There will always, always be someone who can do that thing, whatever it is, better than us.

Faith – well, so and so has a 5 hour quiet time EVERY DAY. In fact I’m not sure she does anything else but read her Bible and pray and journal and somehow miraculously is able to take care of her kids and train them in the Way of the Lord. And she prays out loud these amazing prayers that I’m sure go straight to Heaven because they are SO eloquent. Because I can’t pray like that or I only spend 25 minutes almost every day reading my Daily Bible and journal once-in-a-blue-moon I am sure that God doesn’t love me as much. I’m not even sure I’m a Christian.

Time – spending any amount of time thinking about what someone else has, or does, or is, is a total thief of time you could spend doing something else. Anything. Like reading your Bible so you can be as good as so and so.

Friendship – your friends should be your friends; not judging you because you’re not as something as they are, not comparing your life to theirs; and you should be and do the same. Comparing keeps you from loving others. If you are compensating for what you consider your failings by holding them up to their bigger failings, you are not being a good friend.

Gratitude – this is almost the same as contentment, since you can’t be grateful if you’re not content. And vice versa. Years ago I heard a homeless man (with a wife and two children) who was living in a shelter say that he thanked God every day for all he had. Let that sink in for a second. I hope that it is for you as it was for me, incredibly humbling. When we spend a good part of our time wishing that we made as much as that person or had a house as nice or a husband as thoughtful or kids as well-behaved or could take that vacation like they did…and there are people out there that have [by our definition] NOTHING. Yet they thank God every day for all they have.

Lord, take from us our comparing, and our dissatisfaction, our lack of gratitude and contentment. Take away our looking-for-more and replace it with looking-for-you. Help us to have faith in you and trust your provision for all that we need. Give us this day, our daily bread. And let us be thankful for it. Amen.