Comparing Ourselves

COMPARING OURSELVES

I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (V.3 NKJV). 

Psalm 73

Reading

Many of us can’t help but compare ourselves with the people around us. We look at others on social media, school classes and even amongst our closest friends and see the looks, abilities and family life that we’ve always wanted. When we compare ourselves to them, don’t we sometimes feel like we’ve been short-changed by God? 

If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone. Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73, listed loads of ways that people who weren’t bothered about God seemed to be enjoying better lives than him. He even started to wonder if living for God was worth it at all (V.13). But his thinking totally changed when he took some time out with God: “Then I understood their end” (V.17 NKJV). 

When we spend time with God and think about His point of view, it changes how we see things. We may want to be like the people who don’t go to church or don’t have to say no to doing certain things. But we won’t want to be like them when Jesus returns. In fact, rather than wanting to be like them, Asaph started to realise how much they needed a Saviour (V.19). 

Like Asaph, let’s thank God for all He has done for us and for the promise of heaven that we have (VV.25-28). He is all we need, even when life seems unfair.

SPENDING TIME WITH GOD HELPS US SEE THINGS AS HE DOES.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries