Ever heard the expression “Keeping up with the Joneses?”
(No not the movie from a few years ago)
Its when you want to own the same objects and do the same things as your friends/neighbors because you are worried about seeming less important/cool/fun/awesome/attractive/interesting than they may be.
I’m definitely guilty of feeling like that.
Its not fun. When we’re always looking at the grass we think to be greener over there, we are not being fully present where we are, and we’re missing the wonderful things going on in our presence.
And God doesn’t want us to live to the standard of someone else. Romans 12:2 says: “Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out God’s will.”
Paul is saying there in Romans we should not be concerned with how folks may view us, or what their standard of cool may be – because whatever is cool today will be ridiculous tomorrow (Google Hammer Pants*).
You are awesome.
You are loved.
You are a child of God.
*No really, people thought Hammer Pants were cool in an unironic way…I wanted some soooo bad…
Red Chair Music 