SCRIP-BITS

2 Corinthians 10:12.    For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.
 
Oh Friends, the heat wave’s over, at least in my area! Thank the Lord! I’ve turned off my A/C and opened my windows once again. I even felt a bit chilly sitting on my front porch last night. Hn, hn! It’s so good to go back to the beautiful summer weather we were having before the insensitive heat wave so rudely interrupted it. (smile) Anyway, this morning when I came down to write the Bit, I felt a pull in my spirit to find a useful quote, and was guided to my ‘I LOVE YOU’ poster, where I found this gem. ‘Almost all of our unhappiness is the result of comparing ourselves to others.’ Now isn’t that the living truth Friends? It sure is! More than half of our world’s problems would be solved if we stopped comparing ourselves to others. But unfortunately that’s the very direction our society is driving us in. We compare ourselves to others more so today than at any other time in our history, particularly with those who seem to be on a higher socio-economic plane than us. We gauge their physical appearance, their style of dress, their houses, cars, wives, girlfriends, hobbies etc, then try to emulate them. And technically speaking, nothing’s wrong with that, but the problems crop up when, without the real means, we still desperately try to be like them. We run up debts to dress and live like our friends, neighbours and associates. We lie about what we have and don’t have, about what we do, where we go etc. We starve ourselves or over exercise to have the slim, svelte figure that a stupid, immoral society dictates is the fashion…and Lord forbid if we’re not in fashion, amongst the fashionista! But those ideas are causing so many people, both young and old, to be seriously led astray. Things like bulimia and anorexia have now reached epidemic proportions. The same thing is happening with older folks trying to look young. Recently I read, and was most surprised, that not only women, but also lots of men are now having plastic surgery to try and regain a youthful look. Why? Because our society is fixated on the young, which means they must look good in the boardroom, and look good to the younger women whom they seem to lust after more, with each passing day. Something must be wrong with me yes, but the young ladies today don’t thrill me at all. I don’t like how they look, dress or behave. They lack the basic class I look for in women. But that’s just me and my old-fashioned self. (smile) Yuh know it’s a sad commentary on our society when we’re driven to compare ourselves to others, to adopt the empty, superfluous lifestyles of the rich and famous, who are also trying to outdo their wealthy peers in amassing more worldly possessions and living a more lavish lifestyle. This just breeds the negative emotions of greed, envy, jealousy, pride, anxiety, anger, bitterness and even violence, when we can’t accomplish those lustful worldly goals. Much of the debt we’ve accumulated can be traced right back to the foolish desire we have of ‘keeping up with the Joneses.’ And though there’s no harm in wanting to look good and live good, when it drives us to do what we can’t really afford, then it becomes a problem, a sin in the eyes of God. And while we’re rushing to compete on false terms and levels, the greedy businessmen are getting wealthier, laughing all the way to the bank, not caring that they are creating a monster that will eventually come back to bite them. Just look at the recent worldwide economic fallout, from which we’re still suffering, because some greedy, unprincipled people built a house of cards to enrich themselves. But would you believe they haven’t learned their lesson, they’re still doing the same thing. Ah Lord eh! But such is the greed and stupidity that mankind has achieved at his highest point of evolution. The Good Lord must certainly wonder where He went wrong when He looks down at our pitiful society; a society that’s evil, ungodly and hell bent for destruction. Oh Friends, the safety, the regeneration of our world depends on us believers. If we don’t infuse peace, LOVE and common sense into our world, then the future certainly looks bleak. Jesus knew the evil stuff we’d get into, and that only the gospel could save us, that’s why He instructed the disciples, and by extension, all future believers, to ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.29:19-20) But unfortunately we can’t do that properly unless and until we stop following the foolish mores of the world. In this particular case, comparing ourselves to others, and thus bringing on feelings of inferiority or superiority, with all their attendant problems. Friends, please remember that we’re supposed to be in the world but not of it, so let’s take Bruh Paul’s words in our Bit to heart and reduce our participation in the world’s ungodly activities. ‘For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.’ That’s gospel my people! So I’m imploring us to be wise, to pull up our socks and get back to basic Christian principles, as our Lord and Saviour Jesus desires. Only then can our world improve. Much LOVE!…comparisons only lead to doubt, confusion and ungodliness…