It Leads to Misery: One Year Bible Reading for June 14

 Today in the One Year Bible, we read from these verses:

1 Kings 12:20-13:34
Acts 9:26-43
Psalm 132:1-18
Proverbs 17:6

Let's look at the Psalm. The Psalmist tells us that David was REALLY committed to building God a tabernacle/temple. He said he wasn't going to eat or sleep or anything until he'd given God a house to live in. And when we step back and examine this, we see that it's deeply weird.

Why does God, who CREATED the universe and exists both inside and outside of space and time, need a house to live in? Well, short (and obvious) answer is that He doesn't.

But David was doing what Israel did so often - looked at his neighbors and thought "We should do that." That's why Israel got themselves a king. That's why David built God a house.

One of the (many) take away lessons here is: stop comparing yourself to others. Don't look at your successful friend and feel bad that you don't succeed in the same way. It's hard to do! Especially today, in the day of Facebook, where you see ALL of the best promotions and marriages and babies and vacations and achievements on display all day every day. You don't (usually) see their struggles. You see YOUR struggles and their success. So it is only going to make you miserable if you keep comparing yourself to them.

Instead, be grateful! Thank God for all He's done for you, and thank God for all He's done for them. Pray for them, and (this is a little psychological trick you can play on yourself) you'll kind of feel like you're part of their success!

God, thanks for showing us not to compare ourselves to others.