Greener Grass
As I pulled into my driveway yesterday, I noticed how unusually green my yard was for this time of year. Okay, maybe that’s not so unusual for Mississippi. Still, it stands out vibrantly compared to the homes on the left and right of us this winter. Why? Well, unfortunately, I didn’t apply the big bag of fall pre-emergent weed control I purchased in time, and the weeds are thriving. I’m still learning how to care for our new yard and have made a few mistakes along the way. So, I guess the grass is always greener on the other side… unless it’s winter and your yard is full of weeds!
As cliché as this saying is, we can be quick to look at someone else’s life from a distance and see something bright and vibrant that—upon closer inspection—could actually be unhealthy growth. We all know social media has amplified the temptation to compare our lives to others, whether friends or complete strangers—only seeing their best moments and measuring them against our worst. This isn’t a new concept, however. Jesus speaks about two homes in Luke 6.
“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” Luke 6:47-49 NLT
At first glance, these two homes would probably appear comparably beautiful and seemingly well-built. In fact, the home built on sand might even look nicer, boasting a fancy beach view. However—when the storms come—only the house built on a firm foundation will stand. And we all know that firm foundation is Jesus!
When we build our lives on Jesus, it’s like following all the proper instructions from a blueprint—no cutting corners. He might even remove something we started with if it wasn’t assembled quite right, restarting from scratch to make sure the finished product is strong and stable. This process can be painful and test our patience, especially as we feel like everyone else around us is getting ahead. But that’s just it—we don’t know what’s really going on in the lives of others.
Sometimes people are taking all kinds of shortcuts to get where they are. Other times, they are experiencing their own growth and hardships behind the scenes as God shapes their stories. We just don’t see all the messy parts. That’s why it’s so important not to compare our lives to others. Instead, we get this encouragement from Paul in 1 Thessalonians:
“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT
One of the best ways we can keep our eyes on our own lives and truly “mind our own business” is to thank God daily for what He’s doing. It can be the little things or the big things. The more we notice His faithfulness, the more we celebrate right where He has us—and the more it helps our perspective as we embrace the journey of building our lives upon Him.
Have you been comparing your life to others? What’s one thing in your life you can thank God for today?
