The Comparison Trap
“We live in ‘The Land of Er ’ – richer, prettier, skinnier, smarter, faster, happier…and we want others to live in another land – heavier, slower, shorter, poorer, nerdier …Some of us even live in ‘The Land of Est’ – richest, smartest, prettiest…” - Andy Stanley
What are the areas that you most compare? • How you look • How successful you are • What you’re good at or wish you were good at • What life stage you are in • How popular you are And who are the people that you most often compare yourself to?
1. Comparison is a trap – no-one ever wins
Ecclesiastes 4:4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Job 5:2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 29:23 Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honour. Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.
1. Comparison is a trap – no-one ever wins 2. Look up
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.
• He created you and declared you very good (Genesis 1:31) • He designed and created your inmost being – who you are and what you’re like – you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14) • He has determined the times and places in which you live, and your circumstance (Acts 17:26) • You’ve sinned but he loved you enough to send Jesus to pay the price of your sins (John 3:16) • If you’re a follower of Jesus then you’ve been saved by his ‘grace’ – his unmerited goodness so you can’t boast, but equally you can’t do anything to rubbish this gift he’s given you (Ephesians 2:8-9) • He has chosen you and adopted you as his own, and you lack nothing (Ephesians 1:3-8) • He deemed you significant enough to come and live inside of you and call you his temple (1 Corinthians 3:16) • He has created you to do things for him (Ephesians 2:10) • You can do all things through Him, as he will strengthen you (Philippians 4:13)
1. Comparison is a trap – no-one ever wins 2. Look up 3. Re-write the track
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. We need to take mastery over our thoughts, instead of our thoughts taking mastery over us.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Our feelings are always seeking to control us, and unless we realise this they will undoubtedly do so. Have you realised that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself. We must talk to ourselves instead of allowing ourselves to talk to us. The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, address yourself, question yourself and preach to yourself. - Martin Lloyd-Jones
1. Comparison is a trap – no-one ever wins 2. Look up 3. Re-write the track 4. Cultivate contentment
Philippians 4:10-12 For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
1. Comparison is a trap – no-one ever wins 2. Look up 3. Re-write the track 4. Cultivate contentment
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