And when those came who were hired first, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. — Matthew 20:10 (NKJV)
Have you ever been grateful for what you have – until you compared it with what someone else has?
Jesus tells the story of workers hired at different times throughout the day. Some worked from early morning, while others were hired at the eleventh hour, and worked for only one hour. At the end of the day, they all received the same wage.
The workers who had laboured all day were upset. They had worked longer under the hot sun and yet received the same wage as those who had worked only one hour.
The landowner reminded them that they had received exactly what they had agreed to receive.
Comparison Changes How We See What We Have
The early workers knew what they had agreed to received – a denarius was agreed upon. But when they saw the latecomers receiving the same amount, suddenly they felt they should be getting more!
This happens to us more often than we realize – we are quite happy with our home, or work or children, until we compare them with someone else’s better home, work, or children.
Someone Else’s Blessing Doesn’t Diminish Ours
The landowner reminded the early workers that they received what he had promised them. The latecomers’ blessing didn’t reduce their portion.
Comparison Can Dim the Light God Has Given Us
Comparison doesn’t only make us dissatisfied. It can cause us to stop seeing the value of what God has placed in us.
We look at someone else’s gifts and think ours aren’t good enough. We see someone else’s accomplishments and feel that we’ve fallen behind. We compare our chapter with someone else’s highlight reel and start believing that our own story isn’t worth much.
But God never asked us to shine with someone else’s light. He gave each of us our own gifts, experiences, and story. You don’t have to shine brighter than someone else. You simply need to shine with the light God has given you.
My Invitation
This is my invitation to you today: look at your own portion and be truly grateful. Resist the temptation to compare yourself with others, because God has a unique plan for each of us.