Proverbs 14:30 (CEV)
To live an abundant life that overflows with God’s goodness, the first thing you need to do is start being grateful and stop complaining. The second thing you need to do is start being content and stop comparing.
God made you to be you. He doesn't want you to be anybody else! When you compare yourself to other people, you get envious and resentful, and you might even start to copy them.
But God has never made a clone. God only makes originals. Even identical twins are different in thousands of ways. If you won’t be you, then who will be?
The truth is that comparing only gets you into trouble. When you compare your looks, your grades, your spouse, your career, or your kids, it causes two problems.
One, you get full of discouragement, because you can always find someone who's doing a better job than you—someone who is better looking, makes more money, or has more talent. And two, you get full of pride. Why? Because you can always find someone who’s not doing as good a job as you.
The Bible says, “It is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NCV).
Because of social media, it's easier than ever to compare yourself to others. When you see posts every day that shout, “Look at me! Look what I can do! Look what I’ve got!” it can draw you into a state of envy and discontentment. It can even cause you to try to impress others with your own posts. But the thing is, you don’t have to impress anyone. A key to living a life overflowing with joy is to just be yourself, content with who God made you to be.
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed? Do you want to be spiritually and emotionally healthy? Contentment comes when you enjoy what you have rather than waiting for something else to make you happy. Stop comparing yourself to other people, and start being content with what God has given you—and then watch your joy overflow!
To live an abundant life that overflows with God’s goodness, the first thing you need to do is start being grateful and stop complaining. The second thing you need to do is start being content and stop comparing.
God made you to be you. He doesn't want you to be anybody else! When you compare yourself to other people, you get envious and resentful, and you might even start to copy them.
But God has never made a clone. God only makes originals. Even identical twins are different in thousands of ways. If you won’t be you, then who will be?
The truth is that comparing only gets you into trouble. When you compare your looks, your grades, your spouse, your career, or your kids, it causes two problems.
One, you get full of discouragement, because you can always find someone who's doing a better job than you—someone who is better looking, makes more money, or has more talent. And two, you get full of pride. Why? Because you can always find someone who’s not doing as good a job as you.
The Bible says, “It is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NCV).
Because of social media, it's easier than ever to compare yourself to others. When you see posts every day that shout, “Look at me! Look what I can do! Look what I’ve got!” it can draw you into a state of envy and discontentment. It can even cause you to try to impress others with your own posts. But the thing is, you don’t have to impress anyone. A key to living a life overflowing with joy is to just be yourself, content with who God made you to be.
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed? Do you want to be spiritually and emotionally healthy? Contentment comes when you enjoy what you have rather than waiting for something else to make you happy. Stop comparing yourself to other people, and start being content with what God has given you—and then watch your joy overflow!
Talk It Over
What do you enjoy about your life right now?
When it looks like God is blessing others in a way he’s not blessing you, how does it make you feel? In those moments, what can you remind yourself about God’s goodness?
If you know something like social media is going to cause you to be discontented, what will you do to lessen its effect on you?
- by Pastor Rick
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Prayer:
Father,
It is written in Psalms that You make known to us the path of life; You will fill us with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Help us to find true satisfaction in Your presence. Let our joy not be tied to possessions, achievements, or people, but to You alone. Fill the empty places in our hearts with Your love and peace. Let Your presence be enough for us, in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
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