II Corinthians 10:12 " For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
We as Christians sometimes find ourselves, comparing ourselves-- with others. God is very careful to let us know His feelings about this. He tells us that if we do so, that we are not wise. Why is it though, that when we find ourselves comparing ourselves with others, it is usually because we are looking at the things they have and wishing that we had them?
It could be a better job, a bigger house, a newer car, a prettier face, a slim "model" figure, a house make-over or even a more caring husband. We tend to look at the things that others have that we don't have, much too often. Comparing yourself to others, can lead to self-pity and we become discontented with the "things of the world" that the Lord has already given to us.
Let me ask you a question…. If you are one that tends to look at what others have and compare, do you ever compare yourself with someone that is less fortunate than you? Perhaps someone that doesn't have all the things that you have? I daresay that not many of us do that. But if we would begin to compare ourselves to those that live in a third world country, we would immediately gain a better perspective on what we have and indeed be able to "count our many blessings".
Let me take you to Uganda, E. Africa and share with you a few things that go on, in the every day lives of ladies there.
They have no indoor plumbing and have to go to the river or an outside pump somewhere to pump their water. Then they have to carry it back to their house. They will use that water for their cooking, washing dishes, their clothes, and for bathing, all with just a small basin of water. They don't have the luxury of a bathtub or shower, much less hot water.
There is a common outhouse that most of the neighbors share. They live in a 10'x10' one room house with a curtain dividing it. It will have a single bed on the other side for a family of four. The children sleep on mats on the floor.
They have no kitchen but do all their cooking outside. They have to gather either charcoal (not the instant brickets that we are able to buy) or wood, to do their cooking in a one pot "sauce pan" over a charcoal cooker. They don't have the instant foods like we do, so cooking for them takes several hours.
They pretty much eat the same things every day – they have no concept of variety in their diet. Most of the ladies in the village have no electricity. When the sun goes down, (which it does every night around 7:00) they break out the kerosene lanterns or candles. Many of these women dig in their fields or gardens during the day. They have a hoe in one hand and a baby tied to their backs while they labor for many hours in the hot sun. They have very little idle time and are very hard workers.
After reading this, would you say that you are blessed by living in America? We take so much for granted and fail to look around us and see how God has truly blessed us. Instead of complaining about the things that we don't have, we need to be thankful…. ever so thankful, for how much we do have, and that we were privileged to be born in America.
God tells us in Hebrews 13:5, to be content with the things that we have. In I Timothy 6:6-8, God tells us to be content with food and raiment. Are we satisfied with God's provisions?
The more we walk with the Lord and grow in Christ, the more content we will be with whatever He allows us to have. We need to be so satisfied with the wise providence and goodness of God, that we know
that whatever He determines for my life is the best; and therefore I am perfectly content.
Real contentment must come from within and not be dependent on external circumstances.
The things of this world will never bring contentment because they are temporal. Can you find contentment in this great land of plenty?
Philippians 4:11-13 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
2 comments:
Oh my! This certainly puts life into perspective. I need to read this everyday!
I needed this. Thanks for sharing.
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