This or That?

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:10-13 ESV). I know you have asked yourself whether you should choose “this or that”? It may be a simple as choosing one brand or another at the grocery; or, as complex as choosing one career path over another. Whatever level of decision you are faced with, comparison can be destructive. It can erode my ability to be content and confident. Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is a thief of joy.” There are certain truths that underlie the apostle’s declaration of contentment in our reading today. They can help do a better job of loving yourself. Practice community more than comparison. A posture of comparison often creates competition in an inappropriate context. Instead of celebrating diversity, comparison often requires that someone be labeled the winner and someone the loser. We view others as competitors instead of companions. Avoid comparison as it produces jealousy and envy. One of the first things I discovered about jealousy is that much of its power is derived from a lack of information or ignorance. At its core, envy is either a lie or an illusion. Jealousy obscures my vision. It demands that I blind myself to the fullness of another person’s life which includes joy and pain, successes and failures, peaks and valleys, flaws and beauty. It is thereby destructive in life. Control unrealistic expectations. It is futile and irresponsible to look at one part of a person’s life and envy it. You have to look at the whole picture, the good, the bad, and the unfortunate. No one’s life is completely free of loss, sadness, pain, shortcomings, disappointments, or insecurities. I’m not saying every life balances out. Some lives have more blessings and some have more suffering and loss. But every life has its relative famines and bounties. Everyone gets some good and some bad. Comparison takes our eyes off the blessings God put into our lives. When we compare our things with others, we get envious and can begin to feel that we deserve more than they do. Comparison cheapens our appreciation for what God has done in our lives, and we can easily shift from gratitude to envy. God wants us to be content with how He has blessed us in life. It is always just right!