We all think it at one time or another: the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I did a little research and found out that this is literally true: optical and perceptual laws alone will make the grass at a distance look greener to the human eye than the blades of grass perpendicular to the ground. It is true…try it sometime!
But that isn’t what we mean, right? We mean that we wish we had their car. We wish we had their job. We wish we had signed up for their classes. We wish our marriage was as great as theirs. We wish our spouse treated us that well. We wish, we wish, we wish.
It is the same thing the Israelites thought about the nations around them. Samuel had grown old, and his sons were not the men Samuel was. The people wanted Samuel to appoint a king to be their military and religious leader just like the other nations. Though they were complaining to Samuel, God knew they were actually complaining about Him. God told Samuel to warn the people about the consequences of what they were asking for, and he did.
He warned them of the way the king would treat them and their children. He warned them that they would regret the decision. He warned them that the grass was definitely NOT greener on the other side of the fence.
But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” 1 Samuel 8:19-20 (NLT)
To the modern reader, the people seem downright stupid. I mean, who would choose to be led by an imperfect king over the King of Kings? Wasn’t it obvious that life would be better in God’s hands? Apparently not.
Let me give these bold warnings to all of us:
- Do not envy another’s life…it is not your life to live.
- Do not covet a different set of skills or passions…you do not appreciate the ones you have.
- Do not lament the good looks, shiny toys or carefree life of other people…you don’t know what lies just below the surface.
Do not envy, or covet, or lament. Instead tell God what you need, thank Him for what you have, and enjoy His peace.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
