When I was a young girl, we didn’t have a lot of money. But that didn’t prevent me from shopping. At a very early age, my mom taught me how to dream and imagine. She taught me how to go window shopping. We lived in a small town and all the shops were on one main street. We would walk up one side, down the other, and think and talk about the pretty things in the windows. I could imagine what my new bedroom or outfit might look like if I was able to purchase the things in the window. What a blessing that has been to me over the years. I love window shopping.

When we walked up and down that street, I didn’t desire the things I saw in those windows. I treasured the ability to see it at all. I was so fascinated by the vision that it satisfied any desire I might have to obtain it.

Because I learned to go window shopping and because we didn’t have the ability to shop whenever we wanted or to make purchases on a whim, the sin of comparing is not a very effective sin for the enemy to use against me. He does still use it but, through God’s power, it is not one that I struggle mightily with. There are a bunch of others though. 🙂

Some people really struggle with this particular sin though. If a person grows up with nothing, sometimes they have compared themselves to others and really wanted to be like them. They want to measure up. That will cause a struggle with the sin of comparison. Sometimes our parents have raised us to strive to be like — or better — than others. That will cause a person to struggle with the sin of comparison. There are any number of reasons that we struggle with this particular sin, which could also be called the sin of covetousness.

This sin is so much more dangerous than we realize though. It is one of those silent sins. But when it does rear it’s ugly head, it does it in very damaging ways.

It may manifest as a credit card bill that is excessive and damaging to the family’s finances. Perhaps only one spouse even knows about it, which the enemy uses to cause incredible division in the family.

It may also manifest through social media. One spouse is looking at social media and sees that old school mates, neighbors, or rivals have a new house, a new car, or a more attractive/successful spouse. That family is in trouble! Because those feelings of bitterness, insufficiency, and desire are all of the enemy. They are designed to destroy that relationship and family. It will result in harsh words and decisions that cannot be taken back and that will leave lasting scars. It may also result (in the worst case scenario) divorce.

Perhaps it manifests as a person trying to climb the career ladder. They are willing to stomp on anyone they have to in order to get ahead. That person will end up alone and lonely and probably without a job eventually. They will lose friends. Because friends (to a person like this) are only friends as long as they can help you up that ladder. They will also lose family. Because no one wants to take second place to a career forever. And lets face it. That kind of sneaking, back stabbing, selfish nature is not ideal when you are an employer. Wouldn’t we all prefer someone we could trust?

That sin of comparison or covetousness is a sin that destroys relationships and families. We would all do well to learn to love window shopping. 🙂

God will provide for our needs. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.

And we should be content with all that He has given us. “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8.

The apostle Paul summed up the desire for contentment in Philippians 4:11-13. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation to be content. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. For I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

We have a Heavenly Father who loved us so much that He gave His one and only son to pay a debt that we couldn’t pay. We could not pay the penalty for our own sins, but Jesus paid it all. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

And once we repent, God is faithful and just and forgives us of those sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

He then promises to provide for our needs, walk with us, and to never leave or forsake us. ”Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.

As if that weren’t enough, He then promises us mansions in Heaven with Him for all of eternity.

What more could we possibly need? What does this world have to offer that would pull us off course?

We could have all the riches in the world. But what good is it when we stand before God? It cannot buy back our soul. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:26.

God provides more exquisite things to each of us than money could ever buy or obtain on our own. Nothing can compare to that first look into the face of each of my children. No man made creation compares to the hugs of my grandchildren. No sensation will ever be greater than the love that my Heavenly Father has given me for my husband and him for me. And all gifts pale in comparison to the gift of eternal life that He gave me through the blood of our Savior.

Father God, you are the giver of all good gifts. James 1:17 tells us, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” And we thank you, Father.

We praise you for all that you provide. Father, you know the many ways the enemy tries to pull us away; all the shiny things that he uses to distract us/draw us away from you and your plan. Help us to resist him and his schemes, Lord. Help us to glorify and magnify you. And, through our ability to be content — through our ability to go window shopping — we pray that others might be drawn to you. We love you and pray this in your precious and holy name, Jesus.

Is your life consumed by trying to obtain more money, possessions, and/or power? That is just bondage. It is a burden. Our Heavenly Father loves you. He doesn’t want you to be burdened by the things of this world. He doesn’t want you living life like a mouse on a wheel. God wants a loving and personal relationship with you. And He wants you to cast your burdens on Him so that He can free you of that bondage. “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:29. He wants you to learn to go window shopping and to be content and satisfied in this life.

To obtain all that God wants and desires for you, it takes a simple heartfelt prayer. It’s a prayer of repentance, prayed from the bottom of your heart. We have a prayer like that outlined on our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). Please go to that page and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God is waiting to adopt you into His family. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” John 1:12.

Please pray that prayer and, once you have, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.

Luv Ya!