Why is comparing yourself to others a tool to be used sparingly?
There you are, scrolling your Instagram feed. Everyone is building a homestead and raising chickens and cows. Should you be doing this? Does this lifestyle make people happy? They seem to be happy. The next thing you know, you’ve spent a full hour diving deep into the depths of social media and you’re not feeling so great. You’re sad and depressed. You’re not happy with your life, and you’re left wanting more.
You realize you’ve done it again — you’ve spent time comparing yourself to others. While it’s good to have goals, dreams and aspirations, getting lost in the “gimme gimmes” and “gotta haves” is a slippery slope that can lead to some less than pleasant feelings. So, you may be asking yourself if you should ever compare yourself to others.
Sometimes, it may make sense to compare yourself to others, but it should be done sparingly. Here are some questions to consider:
Why are you comparing yourself to others?
What are you hoping to gain by measuring yourself against other people? If you’ve set a goal, and you’re comparing yourself to see how you stack up, it’s easy to see how that can be beneficial. Consider this: Who are you seeking approval from? Is it man or is it God? Here’s what the Bible has to say: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10 ESV).
The next time you find yourself taking mental stock of your life and comparing it to someone else’s, ask yourself: Am I doing this as a servant of Christ or to serve my own wants and desires?
Does it bring you joy?
No, this isn’t an article that gives organization tips, but Marie Kondo was onto something when she asked her clients, “Does it bring you joy?” Does comparing your life to someone else’s picture-perfect social media snapshot bring you joy? How do you feel after? Are you yearning for things you don’t have? Exodus 20:17 (ESV) reminds us, “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
Or, perhaps, the pendulum swings the other way for you, meaning you feel like you’re sitting pretty. Maybe you feel like you’re just a little bit better than everyone else. Romans 12:3 (ESV) reminds us: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
Have you prayed about it?
This point may seem cliche to some, but it’s where the truth lies. As you stack your life up against another person, pray about it. There are a few different ways you can pray about your situation:
Pray and thank God for what you do have. This will help you change your habit and create a heart of thankfulness.
If you have a need, ask God to provide for you.
If you have a dream, ask God to help you achieve your goals.
Comparing yourself to others is not something Jesus calls us to do. In fact, He asks us to do just the opposite: “But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor” (Galatians 6:4 ESV).
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.