Choosing Contentment Over Comparison

My pastor has been preaching a sermon series over the last few weeks titled “Attitudes-Your Choice.” He has challenged us to think about our attitudes and has shown us how to replace negative attitudes with positive ones.

A recent message was about choosing contentment over comparison. While my pastor spoke mainly about wanting what other people have both materially and financially, my thoughts turned to the times I’ve compared myself with others because of their talents and gifts.

I wish I could be a great artist, cook, or decorator. Even as I’m pursuing writing and speaking I constantly compare myself to other writers and speakers. In my mind I usually find myself coming up short.

I often look at others and want to be like them. I tend to base my definition of success as having a lot of blog subscribers, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and Pinterest re-pins.

My pastor gave us a new definition of success based on this quote:

To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge! To do the will of God is the greatest achievement. George W. Truett

Don’t you see? When we know God’s will or our purpose in life and then we live our lives according to that purpose, we are successful! It doesn’t matter what the world thinks. There is no longer any need for comparison.

What freedom!

One thing I have loved learning while I have been studying to become a Life Purpose Coach is that God created us all with unique values, gifts, passions, and strengths. No two people are exactly alike. While it may look like we have the same talents or gifts as someone else, the reality is there are so many other factors that make up who we are. It’s inevitable that our lives will turn out very differently from someone who seems to have the same talents or gifts as we do.

So, what does it mean to be content with our purpose in life?

My pastor defined it this way:

Contentment is an attitude that says, ‘I will be satisfied with what God has given me.’

Will you join me and choose contentment over comparison when it comes to our purpose in life?

Let’s declare that we will live a life of purpose today. Let’s stop comparing and be content with who God has made us to be.