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You are here: Home / Series / Living Content / Living Content: Comparison

Living Content: Comparison

To read the first 2 posts in this series, begin HERE.

So far we’ve talked about gratitude and God not owing us, but today we’re going to talk about comparison. Honestly this topic is a little hard for me to write about because by NO MEANS am I perfect when it comes to this subject. I struggle with comparison all the time, but the Lord is working in my heart and continually reminding me to shift my focus back to Him and His faithfulness.

I’m currently reading “The Envy of Eve” and when the author boils comparison down to the fact that it’s actually coveting, my mind was blown. I honestly had never thought of comparison as coveting, but as she unpacked the idea, the truth was there staring me in the face. The author says,

This subtle comparison game, if allowed to ferment in our soul, can begin to take root and bloom into a life of discontentment and pain. The source of the problem is the sin of coveting – a sin that may appear inconsequential in comparison to the rest of the Ten Commandments. However, it’s like a drop of water that can find its way into a tiny crack of a rock. Once it freezes, it can cause a [crevice] that damages the rock and splits it to the core.” – Melissa Kruger

The act of desiring something, in and of itself, is not a bad thing, it’s when we take the desires of our heart, and compare them to what others around us have, that we fall into the dangerous trap of coveting.

To covet means “to feel desire for what belongs to another” (Webster’s Dictionary) which is exactly what comparison is. So all this time I thought of this “subtle comparison game” as a normal, harmless thing, but all along I was breaking the 10th commandment!

I know most of us look at commandments like, “do not steal” and “do not murder” and we think “of course we would never do those things!” But I’d be willing to bet that everyone of us covets something every day. I’d also be willing to venture that the consequences for coveting can outweigh the consequences of the “bigger” commandments.

How do we get to the point of comparing and coveting?

Coveting comes from our lack of belief that God is good, and that He has already provided us with everything we need.

Our lack of faith tells us we know what we need, better than God does. So we covet what we don’t have, which doesn’t fulfill us, it only leads to pain and further discontentment. Comparing leads to coveting, which leads to discontentment with our lives, and the Lord – which then leads us straight to the lies of the enemy.

The enemy loves it when we are discontent with the Lord because it opens the door for him to “show us” all the ways the Lord doesn’t provide for us. Suddenly our “eyes are opened” to our great lack – our lack of a healthy family, good friends, strong marriage, a nice house, a new car, success in business, cute clothes, the list goes on. . .

This is an easy, but vicious cycle to get caught up in. So how do you break out of the cycle? The only way I know how to break free from the lies of the enemy, and from a covetous heart are to combat them with truth and gratitude.

Let’s start with gratitude. I know I talked a lot about it in this post but I want to touch on it for a few minutes. The most important thing to stop and remember is that EVERYTHING we have, is because the Lord blessed us with it. Your marriage, your house, your car, your job, your money, none of it is actually yours.

When was the last time you looked around and took a few minutes to be thankful for what you do have?

My guess is that most of us spend more time coveting than being thankful. Colossians 3:15 tells us “[we] are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” (NLT) When we live our lives with a thankful heart it’s easier to find the peace that comes from Christ.

Now let’s talk about truth. When we live life always comparing what we have to what other’s have, it’s because we have forgotten God’s truth and that He is our ultimate provider. We have exactly what we need, because He knows what we need, more than we ever will.

When you open your generous hand, it’s full of blessings, satisfying the longings of every living thing. You are fair and righteous in everything you do, and your love is wrapped into all your works. You draw near to those who call out to you, listening ever closely, especially when their hearts are true. Every one of your godly lovers receives even more than what they ask for. For you hear what their hearts really long for and you bring them your saving strength!” Psalm 145:16-19 (tPt)

“The Lord will never forget us in our need; He will bless us indeed! Yes! He will bless His lovers who bow before Him, no matter who they are. God Himself will fill you with more. Blessings upon blessings will be heaped upon you and upon your children from the Maker of heaven and earth, the very God who made you.” Psalm 115:12-15 (tPt)

That is the truth.

The Lord wants to heap blessings over you, giving you more than you’ve ever asked for!

But He sees your heart and He knows whether you are asking from a place of gratitude or a place of comparison. All throughout the Psalms it talks about the Lord providing abundantly, but when you read through them you also notice the Psalmist’s heart is filled with gratitude. Here’s one of my favorites –

Let everyone, everywhere shine with praise to Yahweh! Let it all out! Go ahead and praise Him! For He has conquered us with His great love and His kindness has melted our hearts. His faithfulness lasts forever and He will never fail you.” Psalm 117:1-2 (tPt)

So my challenge today is for you to examine your heart.

Is your heart filled with thanksgiving and gratitude for all the blessings God has already given you, or is it filled with comparison and a covetous spirit because you don’t think God has given you everything you “deserve”?

I ask myself these questions on a daily basis, sometimes more than once. To escape the vicious cycle of comparison, and the lies of the enemy, we have to get in the habit of filling our hearts with thanksgiving. We have to declare the truth – what the Bible says about God’s goodness!

It’s SO easy and SO tempting to take hold of the lies the enemy is dangling in front of us, but I promise you, living a life believing God is cheating us, will only lead to discontentment, emptiness and dissatisfaction in every area of your life.

It’s just not worth it.

This should be the prayer of our hearts every day of our lives, so I’m placing it at the end of each of the posts in this series –

God, empty out of my heart everything that is false – every lie, and every crooked thing. And give me neither undue poverty nor undue wealth – but rather, feed my soul with the measure of prosperity that pleases you. May my satisfaction be found in you.”  Proverbs 30:8-9a (tPt)

Coveting and comparison come from our lack of belief that God is good. Our lack of faith tells us we know what we need, better than God does. Is your heart filled with thanksgiving and gratitude for all the blessings God has already given you, or is it filled with comparison and a covetous spirit because you don't think God has given you everything you "deserve"? | Faith-Fullness.net

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Filed Under: Living Content 3 Comments

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Comments

  1. Mimi Moseley says

    September 25, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    That was so good. I know I struggle sometimes with this same issue. I have heard Him say, “You are judging.” For me, it puts me in a place where I am determing someone’s favor with God. Not my place. I end up judging their lives as I perceive rather than what is reality. What I have, God has deemed for me and He is faithful to complete the good work He started.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      September 25, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Thank you Mimi. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Renee says

    October 3, 2017 at 5:34 pm

    My favorite post in this series!!! So challenging! I love Psalm 145 and I love what you wrote about God seeing your heart and knowing whether you are asking from a place of gratitude or comparison. As I’m getting ready to share my house story, I wrote this down to incorporate because I was at both places but God knew to wait until my heart was full of gratitude to open his hand of heaping blessings upon blessings. Thank you for sharing your wise words.

    Reply

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Meet Anna

Hi, I'm Anna! Wife, mother, child of God, and the founder of Faith|Fullness. The pages of this blog are filled with my journeys of faith and the adventures that saying "yes" to God have taken me on. Read More…

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So proud of our girl! A quick weekend trip to the So proud of our girl! A quick weekend trip to the Reno T&T gymnastics competition, resulted in 2 medals for Malea!! A bronze in Tumble Track and a silver in Double Mini. 
We also discovered Emilia has mad skills at Fuze ball, and she scooped Matt. 🤣 
We are proud parents, Malea now has 2 competitions under her belt, and 4 metals to show for it! 👏🏻 👊🏻👏🏻
#MaleaElizabeth
I never post political stuff but Zelensky's speech I never post political stuff but Zelensky's speech this morning, broke my heart. I don't understand how we are not doing something to help these people out. I know if we had someone bombing our country, we would demand help from others, how can we just sit back and watch this happens. My heart is breaking for President Zelensky and the burden he's carrying right now. If you haven't watched the speech from this morning, please take the time to watch it, it's powerful, and heartbreaking. 

"Today my age stopped when the hearts of more than 100 children stopped beating. I see no sense in life, if it means it cannot stop the deaths." - Zelensky
Day 8 - Our last day. 😢 After packing we headed Day 8 - Our last day. 😢 After packing we headed back to Makena beach to take in our last waves, and Malea found some big ones. 
🌊
After a couple hours we said our goodbyes to the waves (and the chickens at the beach) and as we walked away I wondered if it would be another 20 years until I get to be here, and how much life has happened since I had been there last. It really is amazing how time flies. 
🌊
Next we went back into Kihei for lunch, some last minute shopping, and a must-stop, for me, Cones on Kihei, where my cousin worked when we lived here. The smell of the  freshly made cones took me right back, and they still had my favorite flavor!! It was fun to get to share this delicious treat with the girls. 
🌊
Then it was back to the condo to get cleaned up and ready to leave. I am so grateful for our time here, the hours at the beach, the beautiful meals, and watching how much the girls loved so many of the things I love about this island. I hope we get to come back but even if we don’t, my heart is full and I am thankful I got to return and relive/revisit so many things from, what feels like, a lifetime ago. Goodbye Maui! 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 7 - Our last full day was probably one of my f Day 7 - Our last full day was probably one of my favorites with a hike out in the lava fields, then snorkeling with Malea, and views of some bright yellow fish before we left. 
🐠
Then we headed into town and had the best sandwiches at @808deli. After lunch the girls were exhausted so we dropped them off and Matt and I walked the beach path in Wailea. We saw lots of whales jumping and even some turtles in the reef. We walked the beach and took in all the beautiful views of this wonderful island. 
🌊 
Next we picked up the girls and headed to Makena beach for some more beach time. The girls played in the waves until we had to pull them from them, so we could go get ready for our luau. 
🌊
We hit the road to Lahaina and headed to the @oldlahainaluau. This was such a good luau, ran like a well oiled machine with stellar service and beautiful dancing, sunsets and the best mocktails of the trip (the girls were in Heaven). 
🌊
Trying not to think about leaving tomorrow, but taking in all the stars and crashing waves, while I still can. 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 6 - Lots of birthday celebration! Malea turned Day 6 - Lots of birthday celebration! Malea turned 13 and we celebrated with a little party in the morning, then headed to the waves. 
🥳
We went back to the cove, where the girls surfed for hours and caught lots of waves. Then we had lunch at a beautiful, and delicious food truck park, set in a canopy of trees. 
🥳
Then it was back up the condo for some out of the sun rest time, and then, of course, we finished out the day at Makena beach, where the girls played in the waves until we had to leave to get ready for dinner. 
🥳
We celebrated in Lahaina with ribs, for my rib girl, and then of course, Hula Pie. 😋 
🥳
It was the best way to celebrate our baby girl turning 13, and a birthday I’m sure she will always remember. 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Happy 13th birthday to one of my most favorite peo Happy 13th birthday to one of my most favorite people ever. Malea, since the day you were born you have been such a blessing. You love big, you love unconditionally, you live large and you are an over-comer. 
💜
I have learned so much from you, you make me a better person, and I can’t wait to see what this next year has in store for you! Wuv you baby girl!!! 
#MaleaElizabeth
Day 5 - Started the morning with the girls surfing Day 5 - Started the morning with the girls surfing the cove, where I learned to surf. There were tons of other people there taking lessons but the girls had a blast, and caught tons of waves. Malea is officially hooked on surfing. Yay!! 🏄‍♀️ 
🌊
After hours of surfing we headed back to the house for some down time, and then back to Makena Beach to close out the day playing in the waves, and drinking margaritas to celebrate margarita day. 
🌊
We enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and an incredible meal at Hotel Wailea then headed home and were surprised by fireworks! What a perfect way to spend Malea’s birthday eve. 
🌊
Matt and I decorated before bed and then I laid in bed thinking about where I was 12 years ago and how the best gift I’ve ever received came at 11:29pm the next evening. 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 4 - Started the day with worship, and our frie Day 4 - Started the day with worship, and our friend’s baptism, at the beach, which was followed by celebration, even by the whales. 
🌊
After the baptisms we picked up surfboards and headed to the waves. It was low tide, so the waves were small, but the girls had a blast and we even got to see more whales.
🌊
Then we headed back to Makena Beach, for some more wave time and found so many chickens! 🐓 8 roosters to be exact ( Malea counted them). 
🌊
Next headed home, and enjoyed wine on the patio, which has been Matt and my afternoon tradition, since we got here. 
🌊
After getting ready for dinner, we did something we used to do, almost every night when we lived here, and watched the sunset from the rock wall, in Kihei across from where we lived. It was so fun getting to experience the magic of the sun setting over the Pacific coast, with my family. 
🌊
After dinner we met up with our friends to talk about the baptism and catch up since we haven’t hung out in awhile. We ended up back at our place, talking late into the night. I am so grateful for how much the Lord has done in all of our lives since we met a few years ago. 
🌊
Tomorrow more surfing and more sun. Maui perfection. 
#MaleaElizabeth @mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer
Day 3 - Started with a 3.4 mile run, with @mmosele Day 3 - Started with a 3.4 mile run, with @mmoseley15, and lots of beautiful views. 
🌊
It was too windy to surf today so instead we headed to Lahaina for lunch (a very messy lunch for my little rib lover) and some shopping.  We scouted out beaches on the way home, and stopped for some fresh fruit at the roadside stand. 
🌊 
Everyone was exhausted but we needed some beach time so we finished up the day with the waves at Wailea beach and another beautiful sunset. 
🌊
Excited because tomorrow we finally surf! 🏄‍♀️ 
#MaleaElizabeth @emilia_boehmer
Day 2- my favorite beach, Makena beach. We used to Day 2- my favorite beach, Makena beach. We used to spend hours, and days here, so it was a dream come true to get to spend hours in the waves and on the beach with Matt and Malea yesterday. It’s as beautiful as I remember it and I was so thankful to be back. 
🌊
After hours of beach time it was a food truck lunch, and time to head into Kihei, my old stomping grounds. We took the girls to the open market where they shopped and shopped, then we ended with shaved ice. 
🌊
The day ended with another beautiful sunset and dinner at MonkeyPod Kitchen, with the best Mai Tais we’ve had and Malea trying to convince Emilia to let her teach her how to cube. 🤣
🌊
Tomorrow we surf. 🤗 🏄‍♀️ 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 1 (yesterday)- A few thankful tears were shed Day 1 (yesterday)- A few thankful tears were shed when I finally got to sit down in my plane seat, and a huge sigh of relief that we were finally on our way. 
🌊 
It has been 19 years since I’ve been to Maui and I expected so many changes, which some of it has, but so much is also the same, including places we worked and a few favorite spots. 
🌊
But the best part was getting to be here with my family—watch the girls disappear to find the pool, and the beach, and the smiles on their faces as the realization sunk in that we were actually here!! 
🌊
Today I am thank for @mmoseley15 bringing me back here, beautiful sunsets, the Maui air, and upcoming beach time with my family! 
#MaleaElizabeth @mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer
Not exactly how I planned to spend my day. 😵‍ Not exactly how I planned to spend my day. 😵‍💫 Thankful for the team at Prestige for sewing the top of my thumb back on. Luckily none of it ended up in the soup. 😬🤣
Saying goodbye (for now), last night, to these bea Saying goodbye (for now), last night, to these beautiful people, was one of the hardest things I’ve done in a long time. The neighbors who showed up with brownies the first time we met them, who became friends, who quickly turned into family—secondary parents to Matt and I,  and grandparents to Malea. 
💛
I have grieved and cried whenever I think about them leaving, for weeks, because I don’t know what it will be like without them. They have always been there for us, supported us, asked us how we are doing, even on our darkest days, and they have loved us and cheered us on, encouraged us to keep going because it will all be worth it in the end. 
💛
I will never hear the end of how terrible it was we decided to move to Palo Cedro and “abandon them”, but that didn’t discourage them from showing up with homemade birthday goodies and driving “all the way to the other side of the river” to stop by and see what we’ve been up to, and encourage us with how well we are living out our dream here on our farmstead. 
💛
I am honored they chose to spend their last night with us (even though technically we were 2nd choice 😉) but it was exactly what I needed. Bev, of course brought gifts that spoke to our hearts, and we reminisced, laughed and I think everyone cried at some point. 
💛
Dear friends I am excited for your new adventure, I can’t wait to hear where we need to go next, I can’t wait to “visit” Europe through your pictures, but please don’t forget to come home, you will be missed!!! 💛💛💛
We worked hard this weekend. 💪🏻 Our amazing We worked hard this weekend. 💪🏻 Our amazing house church showed up and helped us run all the electrical in the back garage—can lights, outlets, fans, exterior lights, etc! We finished so quickly that one couple decided to stay and help us frame out the storage room. 👏🏻
Today Matt and I added the door and a few other things, so now the room is ready for sheetrock! 👊🏻 A weekend of hard work and it ended with a beautiful sunset. Game room should be done in the next couple of months. 🙌🏻
#weekendwarriors #diy
Such a fun weekend away to Mt. Shasta, to celebrat Such a fun weekend away to Mt. Shasta, to celebrate Matt’s birthday. 
I am thankful for the beautiful place we live, friends who are as ridiculous as we are, amazing food, hilarious games, and most importantly my husband—who is definitely with celebrating. 
@mmoseley15 @kah_rhis_10
So this happened. 🏦 I still can’t even beli So this happened. 
🏦 
I still can’t even believe it. I am so thankful to finally be able to talk about this with people, because I am so proud of Matt! 
🏦 
When I first met Matt he told me his dream was to be the president of a bank someday, and here we are, in 6 months he will be. I am so proud of how hard he has worked to get to this place, never taking the easy way, always taking the strategic path, even if it meant taking less pay, a lower title, or doing the work of multiple people to make sure something got done well. 
🏦 
This is a dream come true, a promise of the Lord fulfilled, and I can’t wait to see what this next season holds for us. 
Congratulations Matt, you deserve this, and thank you Jeff, for paving the way, and being such an incredible boss, leader, and mentor for Matt. 
#FaithandFullness #faithfulness
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