Abased Or Abounding
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” This modern day proverb is something we hear quoted fairly often and actually holds a lot of truth in its words. If we are all honest, there are many times where we find ourselves comparing our lives to the person next to us, or those we see on various forms of media that stream in on the daily. The temptation to weigh our life next to our neighbors is ever present and if left unchecked, can lead straight into ingratitude, dismay, and unfortunately, depression. Our flesh is continually unsatisfied, the enemy whispers into our ears trying to convince us that the grass is greener on the other side, and the world is continually shouting at us to try and gain our affections, and once again, if we are all honest, we would have to admit that we are drawn away time and time again by one of these, even in subtle ways. This in turn can convince us that if our situation was different, we would then, be content and fulfilled. I believe that there is a key to understanding this continual temptation that can really benefit us in the days we are living in; at the core of this comparison I have found time and time again, is our circumstances.
Taking a deeper dive into the word circumstance, Merriam-Webster defines it as: a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another : an essential or inevitable concomitant. In looking at the first part of this definition we can see that it immediately exposes something to us; the realization that a circumstance is actually what we make of it, or how we respond to it, not the event or condition in and of itself. The key to understanding this is found in the words determining another. We are conditioned by the world to be products of our circumstances and the events that are happening to us, and many times we find our attitudes are dictated by these very things. I am certainly not negating the fact that life is difficult; the pain, the struggles and trials we face each and every day are ever present and entirely real and can cause a great deal of physical, emotional, and spiritual duress. But many times we feel like we are defined by our circumstances. Yes, we need to acknowledge the things that are happening to us and navigate them in a healthy way, but over time, we should not allow them to determine our emotional state. When looking at the second part of this definition we see the word concomitant. This word holds a very similar meaning to determining another, it means: present at the same time and place. That means, if the day is going well for us, our souls are well. If our days are full of dreariness, monotony, and tiresome dealings, we find our spirit inherits this kind of attitude and character as well. If we find ourself in a trial of immense pain and suffering, we feel as if we are going to buckle under the heaviness of it all. Once again, while not diminishing the severity of life, I have personally found as well as many other saints that have gone before me that I must learn to be content, no matter what circumstances may befall me and not allow negative comparison to be apart of my life.
One of the comparisons I believe we struggle with the most is between good versus evil and the just versus the unjust. Asaph in the 73rd Psalm wrote about this very struggle that he faced, and it is one that we certainly face as well. He says in verses 2-3, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (ESV) We can easily compare our just lives to those of the wicked and become tempted to become discontent with how they seem to be prospering in their evil doings and we seem to be afflicted and distressed at every turn. How easy it is to grow envious and dissatisfied when we seem to be reaping pain and sorrow for trying to walk closely with the Lord, seeking to live a life that honors Him. But I am reminded of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:45 He says to us that “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” There is no partiality with God. He is the One who allows certain events and happenings to take place in our lives, so we can take solace in that fact. There is another verse in this Psalm that has drawn and challenged me over the years, because I realize that it is probably going to take a lifetime for me to truly come to sing this meaningfully with all my heart, Psalm 73:25, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.” Nothing on earth? That is definitely a tall order seeing as how even the blessings that God bestows in our lives can compete with our affections for Him. But, when we remember that our greatest reward, even in this life, is Him, comparison in our life will fade over time when we behold the One who knows our story from start to finish, and all the events in between.
Lastly, we can all gain some valuable insight from the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church of Philippi. In this epistle he writes, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Phil. 4:11-12) The key to understanding the words of Paul in this passage is that first, he had to learn, before he knew. Through the events of his life that God ordained, he learned in time how to be content in all of the circumstances that came about. This is not a one and done kind of learning experience. Through the seasons of life, God allows us to go through testings, trials, insurmountable emotional turmoil, great blessings, times of refreshing, and incomparable mountaintop revelations of His goodness. These are all interwoven into the tapestry of the days He has planned for us. It is through these kinds of highs and lows, that in time, we can also say with Paul, that we know how to be abased and how to abound. And when we know what it means to live this out, striving will eventually cease in return; allowing us to live a joy-filled life. Christ is our portion and our greatest treasure this life has to offer, our all in all, and in Him, our earthly cravings, competitions, and comparisons, can come to an end. Without Him, we can do nothing, but through the strength He provides, we can do all things.
