Comparisons Will Never Lead to Contentment!

Have you ever been encouraged to feel better about your life by comparing your lot with those who have less?  Many well-meaning family members and friends, even counselors, suggest this without ever realizing what is happening at the deepest level.  Comparing ourselves with others generally leads to two sins: pride or covetousness. 

When we compare ourselves with those who have more, our sin nature rises up within us and begins coveting. 

You are content with your job . . . until your friend gets a promotion.

You are content with your home . . . until your friend buys a bigger home.

You are content with your vacation . . . until your friend shows you pictures of his vacation.

Our natural defense mechanism to keep from coveting what others have is to compare ourselves with those who have less, and once again our sin nature rears its ugly head—this time in pride. 

I may not have the job I studied, planned, and trained for, but look at Joe; he’s been out of work for months! At least I’m working!

I may only have a cramped little house, but look at John; he’s renting a mobile home! At least I own a house!

My marriage may be a little rocky—OK, very rocky—but look at Jim; His wife left him last month! At least I’m still married!

The Bible does not teach us to find our contentment in what others lack.  Our comparisons are never to be horizontal; they are always to be vertical.  Paul never compared himself with any of the other apostles.  In fact, when he did get into comparisons, he always saw himself as “the very least of all the saints” (Ephesians 3:8) and “the foremost” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).    Horizontal comparisons never shaped Paul’s life; Christ did.  Paul never denied the reality of difficulty, struggle, or need.  He simply determined to live above the circumstances of his life by relying on the power of Jesus.  Paul wrote, “I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12-13). Paul always looked vertically in life, which was the secret to his contentment.

It’s important to remember that Paul said he had learned contentment, which means he was not content by nature . . . and neither are we! We are restless.  We are dissatisfied.  We are unfulfilled.  Only when we fix our eyes on Jesus will we begin the lifelong process of learning contentment.  It is all of grace, yet it takes time and effort.  God gives us the grace to accept our lot in life, whether it is filled with abundance or lack and scarcity.  To live a life of contentment in the midst of shattered dreams and broken promises is only possible through our relationship with Christ.  Christ is our contentment, not our current condition in life. 

When we make horizontal comparisons in life, we are building upon sand.  Is there anything you have in this physical world that the storms of life cannot take away?  The only thing that can never be taken away is your relationship with Christ.  When we fix our eyes on Him we build a life upon the Rock of ultimate contentment.  We can run the race with endurance and joy.

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!