In our fast-paced, achievement-oriented society, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressures of day by day life. We often find ourselves comparing our own accomplishments to the seemingly perfect lives of others. A conversation I recently had with a friend highlighted this struggle. She was feeling overwhelmed by every part she had to perform, and I attempted to reassure her by saying, “It’s okay to not get some things done. You just haven’t got the bandwidth immediately.” My intention was to assist her recognize that she didn’t should do all of it and that it was okay to acknowledge her limits. However, after our conversation, I learned she had broken down in tears, interpreting my words as “You haven’t got what it takes to perform every part you should do. You aren’t enough.”
This incident is a mirrored image of a broader issue lots of us face. We take a look at our lives, just attempting to sustain, after which we see others who seem to perform so far more. They appear to have more energy, resources, or time. They’re homeschooling their kids, running successful businesses, making sourdough bread, taking luxurious vacations, and living a life that seems unattainable. It’s easy to wonder, “How do they do it? Why cannot I get that much done?” This line of pondering often results in feelings of guilt and inadequacy, as if we should always be doing more or be further along in life.
King Solomon’s Perspective on Achievement
King Solomon, certainly one of the wisest and wealthiest men to ever live, offers us an important perspective on this issue. In Ecclesiastes 2:4-9, Solomon lists his quite a few achievements:
“I undertook great projects. I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted every kind of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I purchased female and male slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired female and male singers and a harem as well—the delights of a person’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this, my wisdom stayed with me.”
If King Solomon had been on social media, his posts would likely have been the envy of many. He achieved greater than most could dream of and had all of the wealth and luxury that one could desire. Yet, despite all his successes, Solomon’s message was not certainly one of self-congratulation. Instead, he often emphasized the phrase “under the sun,” reminding us to maintain life in perspective.
The Reality Behind the Achievements
There are two key realities that Solomon’s reflections bring to light, that are just as relevant today as they were in his time.
First, there’ll at all times be individuals who appear to be doing greater than us, and that’s okay. We all have different capacities, and we must trust that what God has given us is sufficient to accomplish what He has called us to do. The Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy is equally vital: “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Contentment doesn’t come from doing every part or being the most effective at every part; it comes from trusting that what we now have and who we’re is enough in God’s eyes.
Second, the achievements we see on the surface, especially on social media, often don’t reflect the total reality. People craft the right image of their lives online, but they rarely show the backstory. We don’t see the high price they could be paying for his or her success—whether it’s strained relationships, lost family time, or a relentless struggle with anxiety and depression. When we judge our lives based on other people’s achievements without understanding the total picture, we set ourselves up for constant disappointment and the false belief that we aren’t enough.
Your Value Comes from God
The trap of believing that our price is tied to our achievements is a dangerous one. The truth is that our price comes from God and who He made us to be, not from what we accomplish. If we do achieve anything significant in life, it ought to be driven by a desire to honor God, not to realize the approval of others or to compete with them.
May we try to be the most effective we might be and achieve all that God has for us, but in addition recognize that true success comes from honoring God with whatever we now have, irrespective of how little it could seem. In a world that consistently pushes us to do more and be more, allow us to find peace within the knowledge that our price just isn’t determined by our achievements but by the love and purpose God has for every of us right here under the sun.
Part 1: Wisdom for When You Want to Check Out
Part 2: Finding Contentment in a World Full of Achievement
Photo Credit: SWN Design
