When I was young, there were some people who were called “the beautiful people”. They were stylish Hollywood stars and rich socialites who led glamorous lifestyles. They were trend setters and fashion icons. They were the rich and famous. (There was even a TV show about them called, “Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous.”) They were touted as the people everyone else wished they could be. Of course as a young person, I thought their glamorous lifestyle seemed exciting. Who wouldn’t want to have all those cool clothes, fancy houses, and parties with hundreds of their ‘closest friends’?
But I grew up. Reality replaced fantasy and life left little time for day-dreaming. Yet, for a while deep down, I still kind of wanted to be like the beautiful people – maybe on a smaller scale. I thought I needed a trendy haircut, stylish clothes, a big house, and the right circle of friends to be happy. Then I actually did grow up and I began to understand the ways of the world.
Scheme #1 – Unattainable standards
Our society has determined the standards for what is called beautiful and for what is considered successful. Hence, bombarding us with the images of “the beautiful people”. Somehow, the beautiful people became the standard, howbeit, an unattainable one. And this is because no matter how beautiful we are, the standard will point out our flaws. And no matter how successful we are, the standard will up the ante. The result is a lifetime of striving and never really being fulfilled.
People who get caught up in this scheme can spend their lives never accepting who they are or appreciating what they have. We’ve all seen it. Women (mostly) who take extreme measures to change their appearance because they cannot be content with the way they look. Or others whose careers are the central theme of their lives, and they have no time for family or friends. Both are constantly seeking to attain a standard that eludes them.
Scheme #2 – Copious criticism
Have you ever noticed that often in the world, criticism flows like a firehose but praise trickles like a dripping faucet. The world is quick to judge and even quicker to criticize the things we think or do. And constant criticism is stifling. Criticism can be such a habit for people that it seems like every word they speak is critical. I think sometimes people may not realize how hurtful their words can be. Other times, it seems that they are purposely trying to thwart our efforts or discourage us. Sometimes we can let criticism roll off our backs, but a lot of times it paralyzes us. And that is the scheme’s design. The world would have us doubt and question ourselves whenever possible.
Scheme #3 The grass is always greener…
This scheme produces dissatisfaction by comparison. Maybe we are struggling in our lives, but we look at our friend’s lives and think that they are doing just fine. We might become jealous. We might have thoughts like, “If only I had whatever they have, I could be happy.” Or maybe, “If I had (or had not) done whatever, I would be as well-off as they are.” Meanwhile, our friends may not be feeling very fortunate at all, but we don’t see their struggles. In reality, the grass is not greener on the other side. What is more commonly the case is that we don’t recognize the value of our own grass because we are too busy envying someone else’s.
Scheme #4 Why bother?
This scheme is the culmination of the first 3 schemes listed. Worldly forces would have us quit trying or give up altogether. By flaunting a standard before us that we cannot attain, by criticizing all that we think and do, and by coaxing us to compare ourselves to others, the world wants us to be disheartened and think, “Why bother? Nothing is going to change anyway.” If the world can trick us into thinking that our efforts are futile and our lives are worthless, it has successfully accomplished its goal of suppressing our initiatives, thus by default, accepting its lies.
We as Christians are often able to recognize these schemes, but we are not immune to them. Any of us might fall prey to measuring ourselves against the world’s standards or being critical or becoming jealous. BUT we also have the ability to change those thoughts and put on the thoughts of God’s Word instead. The world screams inadequacy at us, while the Bible says that we are perfectly equipped. (2 Timothy 3:17) The world calls us losers, while God says that we are super conquerors. (Romans 8:37) Society says we’ll never measure up, while the Bible calls us masterpieces. (Ephesians 2:10)
We must decide to whom we are going to listen. If we listen to the schemers, we will indeed be miserable and unfulfilled. But is we listen to God’s Word, we will have our needs met and live an abundant life. (Philippians 4:19 and John 10:10) The choice is ours. Cling to the words that God speaks and resist the adversary’s rhetoric.
So the next time society tries to trick you into thinking its way, stand up and say, “Not today, world! I am what the Word of God says I am. I have what the Word of God says I have. I can do what the Word of God says I can do. And I will be what the Word of God says I will be.”
Note to my readers: Never forget that God loves you! (and so do I) Thanks for reading!