The Comparison Trap

Before heavyweight boxer George Foreman became famous, a friend told him, “George, one day you’re going to have it all. You’ll have money, a mansion, fleets of cars …”  George replied, “Wow, I’m going to feel good when that happens.” After George became the heavyweight champion of the world, it seemed as though his friend’s prophecy came true. He had everything he wanted, but still didn’t feel good.

One day his childhood hero, NFL football sensation Jim Brown, came to his ranch to do a television interview. George said, “I always wanted to be just like Jim Brown.” Now the person he had idolized since his youth was coming to see him.

George toured him around his estate, showing him his beautiful home, his collection of cars, and the manicured lawn. Jim Brown was impressed. He said, “George, you’ve got it made! I just hope one day I can get it together like you.” George thought, Get it together like me? I’m trying to get it together like him! (MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 331). Even though they were arguably the best athletes in their sports, neither of them were satisfied with their lives because they were measuring themselves with each other.

The Comparison Trap is when we measure our self-worth by comparing ourselves with others. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.” When we compare with others, we will either feel superior or inferior, and neither attitude is from God.

Comparing ourselves with others is like ants comparing themselves. Imagine the ants in an ant pile arguing which of them was the greatest. One claims to be the smartest ant; another the most beautiful ant, and another the most athletic ant. Then a giant foot smashes the ant pile to remind them they weren’t so great after all.

The fact is, we are all ants living on this giant ant pile called Earth. It’s time to stop comparing yourself with others. There comes a time when each one of us must pray, “God I accept the way I look. I accept the intelligence that You gave me. I accept the abilities You gave me. I accept the personality that You gave me. And I won’t blame You or myself for not having what You didn’t give me. Amen.” www.makinglifecount.net

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Trapped in a Cage of Tigers

A circus act with Bengal tigers was performed before a live television audience one evening. The tiger trainer went into the cage with several tigers to do the usual performance. The audience watched in suspense as the trainer took the tigers through their routine.

In the middle of the performance, something happened they hadn’t planned for. The power went out! In total darkness, the trainer was locked in with the tigers. Bengal tigers have nocturnal vision, which means they could see him, but he could not see them. A whip and a small kitchen chair offered little protection under those circumstances. Thirty seconds later, the lights came on and he calmly finished the performance.

In an interview afterward, the trainer was asked if he was afraid knowing the tigers could see him when he couldn’t see them. He admitted to being afraid, but then realized the tigers didn’t know that he couldn’t see them. He said, “I just kept cracking my whip and talking to them until the lights came on. They never knew that I couldn’t see them.” (Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 6)

When Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den he knew the lions could see him, and he didn’t have a chair and a whip to protect him. Even so, he wasn’t afraid because he knew God was with him and trusted Him to protect him. He said, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me” (Dan. 6:22).

What is it that you fear the most? Is it danger? The future? The fear of change? All throughout Scripture we see that knowing God is with us makes fear leave. God told Joshua, “Do not tremble of be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). David said, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me” (Ps. 23:4). Moses told Israel, “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Dt. 31:8). Psalm 118:6 says, “The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid.”

How many times do we need to read this before it finally sinks in? You can get rid of your fear by saying out loud, “Lord, I believe that you are with me, so I will NOT be afraid.” Repeat it as many times you need to, but get it in your heart. Oswald Chambers said, “When you fear God, you fear nothing else. If you don’t fear God, you fear everything else.” That includes being in den of lions, or whatever threat you are facing.  www.makinglifecount.net

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The Million Dollar Mattress

 An Israeli woman mistakenly threw away a mattress that had almost $1 million inside, setting off a frantic search through tons of garbage at a number of landfill sites. The woman threw out her elderly mother’s old mattress because she bought her a new mattress as a surprise. Her “surprise” quickly turned into a nightmare.

The next day, her elderly mother remembered she had hidden her life savings inside the old mattress. “I woke up in the morning screaming when it hit me what happened.” She went to look for the mattress, but it had already been hauled away by garbage collectors. The money was in U.S. dollars and Israeli shekels and “it was all my money in the world.”

Searches at three different landfill sites turned up nothing. Yitzhak Borba, the dump manager, said the mattress would be nearly impossible to find among the 2,500 tons of garbage that arrives at the site every day. The woman stashed the money in a mattress because of her “traumatic experiences with banks.” (Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 42).

During the Great Depression, many people stuffed money in their mattresses because they didn’t trust banks. Don’t put your trust in riches, whether it’s in banks, stocks, gold, or mattresses. “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God” (1 Tim. 6:17). 

Although IT IS wise to save money for the future, we should never put our trust in it because it can instantly disappear due to unforeseen circumstances. Stock markets crash. Banks fail. Thieves steal. You might even forget where you hid your money, like inside a mattress. Psalm 52:7-8 says, “Behold the man who did not depend on God for safety but trusted in the abundance of his riches…but as for me…I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.”  The Lord is the only security that you can trust.  www.makinglifecount.net

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The Photographer's One Fatal Mistake

In spring 1981, a young man flew to Alaska to photograph the scenery and wildlife in the wilderness. He carefully planned for everything he would need to make his adventure a success; photo equipment, 500 rolls of film, several firearms, and 1,400 pounds of provisions.

Every day he journaled in his diary about the scenery and wildlife he saw. What was his fatal mistake? No, he wasn’t eaten by a bear. It was something else. As the months passed, he realized he planned well to live in Alaska for a few months, but he had forgotten to make plans how to get out!

In August he wrote in his diary, “I think I should have used more foresight about arranging my departure. I’ll find out soon.” In November, his body was found in a valley over 200 miles from Fairbanks. An investigation revealed he failed to make plans to exit Alaska.

Jesus told a parable about a rich man who was so successful that he didn’t have room to store his abundant crops. He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. He told himself, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19). He wrongly assumed he would have many years to live.

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’” (Luke 12:20). God called him a fool because he thought he would live a long time, but he died that night and left everything behind for someone else. You can’t take it with you.

Many people are like that photographer—making many plans for this world but never preparing for their eternal destination in the next world. Have you used some foresight in arranging your departure? Here is how to do it.   www.makinglifecount.net

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