Teaching right comparison

I have often felt that it is not right to say, "We don't have it as hard as ______." The intent is to say that we ought not to complain, because compared to others we have it good. I am not now disputing that we who live in America have it easier than the vast majority of the world. I am, however, saying that this is not the way to teach ourselves, or our children, contentment.

Paul says, "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18) and "this slight and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Paul consistently compares our woes to glory. Our woes are temporary; glory is eternal. Our woes are slight; glory is weighty. The problem is that our woes are "seen" but the glory is as yet "unseen." So Paul's prescription for joy, hope and contentment in our lives here is to set our eyes on what is unseen, glorious, weighty and eternal. Then we will not complain for the RIGHT reasons, not because we have it better than other folks, but because whatever we experience is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.