Do I Really Need To Keep Up With The Jones's?

In review of Ecclesiastes 4:4 it says, “I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have.”

Bottom Line:

It seems the basic motive for success is due to our driving force of envy and jealousy for what others around us have.

What this means to me:

I need to examine my motives for success. Is any of it due to a driving force of envy or jealousy for what I see that others around me have? If so, this would be just as successful as chasing after the wind to catch it.

Naturally I think we can all come up with excuses for working hard to succeed or overwork. I can blame it on needing to provide for wife and myself, or I can insist that my work is so important that to slow it down would be negligent.

It may be time for me to start considering if I have a values problem. Could I be valuing the wrong things, specifically the acquisition of stuff above all else.

This verse tells me, “I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have” (Ecclesiastes 4:4 GNT).

I have two options: I can either spend all of my time keeping up with the Joneses, or I can forget them and reduce my stress level. But I can’t have both. Will I want more stuff, or will I want less stress and more time with family and friends? I need to consider when enough is enough. The choice is mine.

Jesus said it like this: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36 NIV) To put it in modern language, “What good is it for a man to become president of his company but lose his kids or his wife?”

The simple answer for me? It’s not good at all.  I don’t think that anyone has ever said on their deathbed that , “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.”

Today I should consider if any of my value’s need an adjustment. Perhaps it’s time to jump out of the race.

In summary, I need to carefully examine my motives and definition of success. Is any of it due to a driving force of envy or jealousy for what I see that others around me have? If so, this would be just as successful as chasing after the wind to catch it.