Have you ever played the comparison game? It’s the one where we THINK that everyone but us has the best everything—life, home, family, job, car. We convince ourselves that our lives are lacking and inconsequential because we don’t have what they have. To make matters worse, most of us spend way too much time on social media, looking at perfect pictures of perfect people living their perfect lives. We begin to wonder, “How will I EVER measure up?”
My experience has shown that one of two paths will be taken at this juncture. One path leads to financial debt bondage. The social media influencers’ (or next-door neighbors’) images of “perfection” will linger in the minds of the unsuspecting. It will become a focal point, a distraction, a gnawing sensation that can only be quieted with a purchase—usually with a credit card or a “buy now, pay later” payment plan. With that purchase comes an immediate endorphin and dopamine rush, which makes it that much easier to make a purchase with money we don’t have the next time around. And there will be a next time. And the enemy knows this, which is one of the reasons finances play a critical role in spiritual warfare.
The second path is one walked by the dutiful saver, by the diligent and focused person with a savings plan in place. They will NOT be distracted by what they see on social media or television. They will NOT succumb to feelings of inadequacy because they don’t have as much STUFF as their neighbors. They value their time, freedom, and service to the Kingdom more than any material possession. This person exemplifies what it means to be a good financial steward for God. They feel a sense of satisfaction from their financial position—until someone tells them that they should earn more, save more, give more.
Let’s face it. The comparison game affects all of us. It creates a sense of pressure to live up to the standards and expectations of others. The dutiful saver is impacted by it just as much as the one who walks willingly into financial debt bondage. Money is an inanimate object and is neither good nor bad. Unfortunately, we attach emotion to money, and our emotional attachment to money can become a playground for the enemy. Money can become an idol if we’re not careful.
Pressure to spend and pressure to save are two sides of the same coin. Whether we’re spending too much or saving too much, money takes center stage. It becomes a distraction from God, which is exactly what the enemy wants. Remember to keep your focus on the Lord, our Savior and Redeemer. No matter in what circumstances we may find ourselves, He will always keep us on the right path.
My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will rescue my feet from the net. ~Psalm 25:15 NASB