I don’t know what it took for you to get here today—emotionally, spiritually, financially—but God does. And I believe He wants to speak to you right where you are, not to burden you, but to move you forward.
So let me start with a personal question.
Have you started gathering your paperwork for taxes yet?
You know the stack—W-2s, 1099s, mortgage statements, receipts you meant to organize months ago. This time of year has a way of translating our lives into spreadsheets: income, deductions, assets, net worth. And whether we admit it or not, something subtle happens in our souls when that starts.
We don’t just measure our money.
We start measuring ourselves.
How did I do this year?
Am I ahead or behind?
Why does it seem like everyone else is thriving except me?
Without intending to, our sense of worth gets tied to numbers, balance sheets, lifestyles, comparisons. And that’s why I want to talk with you about what I call the tax of comparison.
Comparison always costs more than we expect.
It taxes our joy.
It taxes our gratitude.
It taxes our peace.
It taxes our spiritual life.
And right into that anxious, measuring instinct that lives in all of us, Jesus speaks a merciful word.
Scripture Reading
Luke 12:15–21 (NIV)
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions…”
(Read slowly. Sit with it.)
Jesus tells a parable about a rich man whose land produces abundantly. He plans, he saves, he expands. On the surface, he does everything right. But listen carefully to his inner dialogue:
- What shall I do?
- I will tear down my barns.
- I will store my surplus.
- I will say to myself.
Not once does he mention God.
Not once does he mention others.
Not once does he ask what the abundance is for.
His future is shaped by accumulation, not communion.
Reflection: The Lie Beneath the Numbers
The world tells us—constantly—that success is tied to a number. Salary. Square footage. Retirement accounts. Followers. Titles. Vacations. And the message underneath it all is simple and relentless:
If your number is smaller than theirs, you’re failing.
Social media pours gasoline on this fire. We compare our unfiltered lives to everyone else’s highlight reels—and wonder why we feel so restless.
We weren’t even unhappy… until we saw their post.
That’s why someone once said comparison is the thief of joy. And if we’re honest, most of our anxiety isn’t about what we don’t have—it’s about what someone else has.
A Haunting Question
J.D. Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest people in history, was once asked:
“How much money is enough?”
His answer?
“Just a little more.”
That voice lives inside all of us.
One more raise.
One more upgrade.
One more year.
One more benchmark.
And if we’re not careful, it becomes the soundtrack of our lives.
The Wake-Up Call
In ancient Rome, victorious generals were honored with massive parades called triumphs. Gold, captives, treasures—cheering crowds everywhere. But behind the general stood a servant whose only job was to whisper one sentence:
Remember, you are mortal.
In the middle of success, someone whispered reality.
That’s exactly what Jesus does in this parable when God says:
“This very night your life will be demanded from you.”
It’s not meant to shame us.
It’s meant to wake us up.
Your numbers cannot protect you from mortality.
Your barns cannot secure your soul.
The Key Phrase: “Rich Toward God”
Jesus ends with this line:
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Pause there.
What does it mean to be rich toward God?
It means:
- Your deepest security is relational, not numerical.
- Your first instinct in abundance is gratitude, not upgrading.
- Your life is measured by faithfulness, not comparison.
Comparison blinds us to our blessings.
You can be living in a miracle—and call it mediocre because you’ve grown used to it.
And slowly, comparison trains our hearts to believe something dangerous:
God has not been fair to me.
Two Practices to Re-Form the Soul
Jesus doesn’t just change our thinking—He invites us to change our rhythms. So I want to invite you into one of these practices this week. You don’t have to do both. Just start somewhere.
1. The Blessing Inventory Walk
Sometime this week, walk slowly through each room of your home.
In every space, name three gifts out loud.
- “God, thank You for daily bread.”
- “Thank You for rest.”
- “Thank You for safety.”
When comparison sneaks in—their place is nicer… this needs replacing—interrupt it gently:
“Lord, this is what You have entrusted to me. Teach me to be rich toward You.”
2. The Two-Minute Gratitude Practice
Each night, write down:
- Three things you’re grateful for today
- One way God might be inviting you to be generous tomorrow
Time. Attention. Encouragement. Prayer. Hospitality.
Gratitude names the gifts.
Generosity keeps us from hoarding them.
Closing Prayer
Jesus is not scolding anxious people.
He’s liberating us.
Whether you feel behind or restless, He’s inviting you into a different way to live—the life we long for—formed not by comparison, but by trust.
May God give us eyes to see His provision, hearts anchored in gratitude, and lives that are truly rich toward Him.