How Big is your measuring stick?

How big is your measuring stick? [insert 8th grade boy humor here]. Sounds provocative at first, doesn’t it? That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about how you and I feel like we measure up to others and how much time and energy we spend even thinking about this topic in either subtle or overt ways. Do you ever find yourself caught in the “comparison vortex”? If only I could have that much money, that car, that house, that wife, that job, take that vacation, experience that thing, be that happy, have that hair, that physique, be that famous, etc… It’s exhausting, isn't it?! Reminds me of that old saying by business magnate, John Rockefeller…, “How much is enough? Just a little bit more.” 

This past Sunday in church, my pastor reminded us of the story of King David and Bathsheba. It’s a spicy one. I’ll keep it brief. In 2 Samuel 11, David is strolling his MTV Crib style rooftop garden and in the distance he sees some hotty taking a bath. In this moment, he is filled with covetous, lustful desire and demands that she be brought to him. Since he’s a baller, he gets whatever he wants and next thing you know, they are having sex (even though she’s married and her husband, Uriah, is out fighting a war on David’s behalf!) The plot thickens as Bathsheba reveals she’s now pregnant with David’s baby! David, in an effort to appease his guilt, decides to have Uriah killed (which he does successfully) and God is not pleased… Despite it all, God continues to use David and his lineage to further His work in humanity but David is still left having to face the consequences of his actions and suffers great emotional pain when their new son becomes ill and ultimately dies. It’s a fascinating story and I encourage you to read it but here’s my point.

King David was referred to as “a man after God’s own heart”. Absolutely committed to God yet guilty of some of the most shameful atrocities in the Bible! David wanted something outside of God’s plan for his life. He allowed his greed and envy to control his actions. God had provided David everything he could have every wanted or needed but it wasn’t enough. He had to have the girl. 

The struggle is real. We want what we don’t have. We want what others have. We are not easily satisfied and we will, at times, pursue something that we shouldn’t by going after it, despite the consequences. So, what’s the answer? Well, acknowledging that there may a “grass is greener” mindset in some areas of our lives is a good first start and then changing our perspective and focus on striving to be the men God intended us to be will certainly help to push envy to the sidelines of our lives.

So, I’ll ask again? How big is your measuring stick? Are you content with what you have? Do you trust that God has and will provide for you and your family? How do you deal with this issue personally?

Please chime in.