Tag: Philippians 2:3-4

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Focus Friday: Let’s Focus on Comparison

Comparison never ends well.

Either we feel terrible because we feel like we don’t measure up, or we feel pride because we think we’re so much better than someone else.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been tempted to compare yourself to others in so many areas of life:

Physical appearance.

Intelligence.

Ambition.

Accomplishments.

Talents.

Personality.

When I’m comparing, the focus is all on me.

Author Shannon Popkin says that measuring yourself against others isn’t healthy and it isn’t God’s plan. Instead, we can choose Jesus’s me-free way of living: lifting others up and pouring ourselves out. Doesn’t that sound like a more peaceful way to live?

With that in mind, I’d like to invite you to join me in a seven week study of Comparison Girl: Lessons from Jesus on Me-Free Living in a Measure-Up World by Shannon Popkin. We’ll begin on Tuesday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m. Central and end on August 17. We’ll meet together on Zoom. (The link will be posted in my free Facebook group: Catch Your Thoughts with Robyn Mulder or you can message me and I’ll email you the link.)

If you can’t join us for this study, I hope you’ll check out Shannon’s book and go through it by yourself or with a friend.

My ten-day-old grandson, Halston, helped me make a little invitation video with a couple more thoughts about comparison. You can check it out below. (I know I just said we’re not supposed to compare, but I think Halston may just be the cutest baby ever!)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3–4 NIV)

Are you tempted to compare yourself to others? How can focusing on God help you to do your best and look for ways you can pour yourself out for others instead?

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Focus Friday: Let’s Focus on Producing

Producing for blog

As humans, we have a tendency to consume.

It comes naturally. We’re hungry, so we eat. We’re thirsty, so we drink. We need clothes, so we shop. We love reading, so we buy books. We feel anxious, so we sit on the couch and binge-watch Netflix.

Some consuming is necessary and even good, but too much consuming can slow us down and keep us stuck. Too much eating and drinking can fatten us up and endanger our health. Too much shopping can get us in debt. Too much reading (if there is such a thing) can separate us from the real world. Too much Netflix can rot our brains.

Consuming only gets us so far. We have to come to the point where we realize that producing is even more important.

Someone out in the world needs what you have to offer.

You can make them a meal, give them some of your money, give away the books you’ve already read, get off the couch and go visit someone.

Instead of endlessly scrolling through Facebook to see what everyone is doing, you can take a minute to private message someone and let them know you’re thinking of them.

Instead of spending an extra hour watching another show on Netflix, you can write (an actual letter!) to a friend.

You can practice an instrument and play at a local nursing home to cheer up the residents there.

You can make a card and send it to someone going through a difficult time.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to producing new things for the benefit of others…and I can almost guarantee that you’ll feel great when you do. 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests [consuming] but each of you to the interests of others [producing].” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV – Brackets mine)

Do you think you consume too much? How can focusing on God help you to move toward producing more often?