Comparison Trap- The Land of Er- Family Connection

Share a High or Low from this week.
Why is comparison a trap?
What are some of the “ers” you see people wanting
(to be richer, skinnier, smarter, handsomer, funnier, cooler, etc.)?

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And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4 NIV)
Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. (Ecclesiastes 4:5 NIV)
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NIV)
Again I saw something meaningless under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 4:7 NIV)
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ”For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—a miserable business! (Ecclesiastes 4:8 NIV)

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What motivates and drives us to keep getting and achieving more?
Why do we rarely feel satisfied when we’ve achieved what we want to achieve?
Why do we have a tendency to enjoy seeing other people fail?
Describe how you would feel if you could let go of comparing yourself to others. (You may need to prompt your students with some examples: less worried, less exhausted, etc. Ask them why they would feel those things).

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Lord, we know we can easily forget the gifts we have in our lives and we compare what we do not have with what others have. Help us to see the gifts around us. Remind us that we are your child. Amen.

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The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

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Faith 5 is copyright by Faith Inkubators