“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
Today’s quote from Will Rogers seemed appropriate for a Monday; “People that pay for things never complain. It’s the guy you give something to that you can’t please.” Two things grab me about that quote. These days, it seems that 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 try to copy them. The girl in the attached photo is a one of a kind and she too may have complained or compared about something.
That girl and you and thankfully me are one of a kind. God didn’t create any clones. God only makes originals. If you won’t be you, then who will be you?
When we try to compare, the floodgates of complaints open wide. The truth is that comparing only gets you in trouble. We learn from the wise words of one of the wisest men in history, Solomon, that “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” in Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NCV).
In this sin filled world that we live in, it seems that it’s easier than ever to compare yourself to others. When you see posts on FaceBook 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 discontent or it might just be an invitation to a pity party. 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.
Contentment comes when you enjoy what you have rather than waiting for something else to make you happy. Please, this week as we begin Lent, stop comparing yourself to other people, and start being content with what God has given you; and then watch your joy overflow!
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay