Comparison Vs. Contentment – Which One Are You Better At?

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7

The green-eyed monster had me in his clutches. It took little more than a waltz down Instagram-avenue and all of the sudden I felt tragically lost. As a creative person, I like to follow other creative people with hopes to learn from their creative journey. Innocent enough, right?!?! It’s insightful to see  other writers, artists, makers and shakers, it keeps me inspired. But on a bad day I just keep side-eyeing someone else and find myself coming up all kinds of short. Comparing my inferior skill level here, and a little lookie-loo there and before I know it, the inferiority monster has claimed my courage and taken me out. 

That’s often how it works isn’t it? We take our eyes off of where they need to be, start running in the direction we shouldn’t be going and then we’re all kinds of struggling. Well, stink! How did we get here? The only room for comparison really, is running after Jesus and seeing how far we’ve come. If we keep our eyes on the prize, there’s a whole lot more room for contentment in our journey. Side-eyeing everyone and anything else is an invitation to trouble. 

I can’t think of anything that comparison benefits with this mentality. 

I also can’t think of an area of my life that hasn’t succumbed to this type of comparison. 

Someone else is a better artist than me. 

Someone else’s business/work is more successful than mine.

Another person gets x a million times faster than me. 

Most people get y waaaay easier than I do. 

If only I had z, my entire life would be uh-mazing and everything would fall into place.

And you know what’s crazy? Most of these things don’t even last!

1 Timothy 6 exhorts us to remember that “godliness with contentment is great gain” meaning that going after Jesus (godliness) and choosing to be content with where he has us is a prize in and of itself. Whether it is where he has placed us, who he has placed us with, or what he has for us….there is an opportunity right here, and right now to be content with what Jesus has for us in this season.

(Trust me, I’m preaching to myself here too friend!)

When we struggle and take our eyes off of the prize we allow ourselves to fall into temptation and instead of focusing on what we should be doing, we allow ourselves to succumb to what isn’t even needed or necessary. If godliness with contentment is great gain, it’s not a far stretch to consider that comparison with ungodliness is great loss. Why? We get distracted from keeping our focus and mission on what Jesus in his goodness has for us in the present.

When we cultivate contentment we are giving our willing yes to what God has for us and where he wants us. We draw near to him, grow closer to him and go deeper in him. So, it turns our focus from where it could be to where it should be and helps us come back in alignment with what it can be.  

It really boils down to this friend, you and I both have the choice to choose contentment and godliness or to choose comparison & discontent. Our choice affects our day-in and day-out mentality. We take nothing with us into eternity except for what we’ve done for and with Jesus. Everything else falls away. Jesus the King, or the green-eyed monster…..the decision of who we will serve and give our lives to is up to each and every one of us, so choose wisely friend! I have faith in you!

So much love,

Joy