Sin of Comparisons

One of the great poisonous sins in this world is the sin of comparisons. This is the sin of envy, the sin of covetousness, the sin of ingratitude, and the sin of pride all wound together. All these sins rear their ugly heads in the sin of comparisons. Why can’t my children be like theirs? Why can’t my husband be like him? Why can’t my wife be like her? Why can’t I have a job like his, a house like theirs, a car like his, a body like hers, clothes like them? And the list can go on and on. And then in the midst of this ungrateful envy and bitterness, the wicked heart of man immediately jumps to self-justifying comparisons: but at least I’m not as cranky as her, at least my kids aren’t as undisciplined as theirs, at least my husband isn’t as bad as him, at least I’m not as over weight as her, at least I don’t have to do that for a living. But all of it is ugly. All of it is poison. Paul says that covetousness is idolatry, and when you are besieged by the sin of comparisons you are in the grip of idolatry. Bitterness is a root that begins small but when it grows up it defiles many. Instead of constantly comparing ourselves and our families to others we are called to humility and gratitude.

“For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full! You are already rich!” (1 Cor. 4:7-8)