Compare-I-Sin

A long time ago I heard another pastor talk about comparison in that way. It stuck. He was making the point that when I choose to compare myself to someone else, I lose. That there’s no win in compare-I-sin.
I’m thinking he got that idea from Jesus in Matthew 20.
That’s where Jesus tells a parable about some guys hired to work in a vineyard. The ones hired at the very end of the day received a full day’s pay, as did the workers who actually worked a full day. And the “been here all day” guys were ticked. This just wasn’t right.
Or was it?
The workers who had worked sun up to sun down got exactly what had been promised them. What the boss chooses to do for others is really no business of theirs. He’s the boss and he can do whatever he chooses.
Yes, that’s true. And it stings. But it shouldn’t.

God has been so very generous to me.
And when I feel God is being more generous to others than He is to me, that does not mean I’m being cheated or treated unfairly. I’m getting exactly what has been promised to me.
I’ll take it a step further. I actually think it means I’m being loved.
God my Heavenly Father knows just how much blessing I can handle. He knows that if He gave me what He’s given some others, His gift wouldn’t make my life better, it would actually make it worse.
If I only had that guy’s talent and ability.
If I only had that guy’s money.
If I only had that guy’s good looks.
If I only had that guy’s brain.
I believe I don’t have what I don’t have because God loves me. He loves me too much to give me something that could hurt me and those around me.
And what I have — oh my goodness, it’s exactly what He promised me — I have been given every spiritual blessing in Christ! I have been forgiven, redeemed, and restored! I have life to the full in Jesus! I have been given meaning and purpose and hope and joy and a peace that (as the song says) makes no sense!
And it’s my joy to serve Him and work for Him for exactly what He has promised me — Himself! I am so content in my Savior Jesus!
Compare-I-Sin is right.
But so is Content-I-Win.