Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is next week, so numerous moves have already taken place and plenty more are in the works.
The biggest trade so far sent All-Star, Manny Machado, from the Baltimore Orioles to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yesterday, the New York Yankees became even better as they received former All-Star reliever, Zach Britton, from the Orioles.
This is the time of year when teams looking to make a playoff and World Series push try adding as many pieces as they can to help them win right now. As this is happening, the other teams also competing to make the playoffs have a tendency to keep an eye on what their rivals are doing.
Fans, owners, and even players want to know that their General Manager is doing everything he can to pull off a great deal - one which will put their team in a strong position to win down the stretch.
They all get antsy, jealous, and frustrated when another team makes some noise with a big acquisition. Fans especially take notice when their team seems to be inactive in trade talks, and look across the league at lineup-altering moves benefiting the competition.
Everyone involved can't help but compare their own roster to another team's, as well as, envy their trades. They are probably having some of these thoughts:
Did you see the trade they made?
They’ve added another All-Star!
Their bullpen is unstoppable!
The middle of their lineup just got better!
Ultimately, GMs must focus on their own clubhouses and be concerned about the deals they are working on as the trade deadline approaches.
We can relate to this mentality as fans, but this sort of thinking also creeps into our everyday lives when we start noticing the "moves" and "acquisitions" of others.
Jealousy can quickly set in when we find out about the promotion of a co-worker...or a friend who is having another baby when we're still trying to start our family...or a neighbor who is buying a bigger house...or a sibling who is taking an extravagant vacation.
It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and what they have or what they’re doing. We can even get caught up in how others serve the Lord as we buy the lie that they have more significant gifts and talents.
We must ultimately realize, however, the need to focus on our own “clubhouse” and be concerned with our personal obedience and heart toward Jesus.
Comparing, envy, and jealousy can be very dangerous when taking root. Proverbs 14:30(ESV) warns us that “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
But, we can find peace in the encouraging words found in Galatians 6:4 (NLT): “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.”
Today, let’s shift our jealous eyes away from everyone else’s “lineup” and focus on the work Jesus calls us to do individually...and the many blessings He graciously pours down on us.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my propensity to compare my life to others and be consumed by envy and jealousy. Help me be filled with thankfulness and peace as I remain diligent in following Your will for my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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