A group of eight girls stood in front of a gray-stoned building, smiling and making funny faces at the camera, but I only knew one of them in the picture. Shania* went to my high school, graduated the same year as me, yet I never really knew her. She had beautiful brown hair that she usually kept the same way, and wore stylish clothes. The honors student excelled not only in school, but in sports, choir and theater. She modeled, sang beautifully, and had lots of friends. Even though I haven’t seen her in person for two years, I feel as though I still kn0w part of her life because of her Facebook profile.
Facebook does provide new social connections between you and whomever you befriend on the site, but how effective are those connections? Many times we’re able to keep up with how people are doing because, in just a few clicks, we can read what they’ve recently posted. However this can create distorted images about the people around us.
These distortions are a result of people posting only what they want the world to view them as. We usually post our best pictures, ones from good angles or lighting. We want the world to see the good sides of us. I don’t think posting decent pictures of ourselves is necessarily a problem; however when we scroll through someone else’s wall and began to feel envy about the where they've gone, what they’re wearing, or how many friends they have, it’s then that we have to take a step back.
I’ve heard several of my friends remark that if they’re having a bad day and they get on Facebook, it makes them feel worse. One friend admitted that she went through an acquaintance’s wall, looking at the girl’s pictures, and then compared them to what she looked like and to what places she’d never been to. She said that it made her feel like she was inadequate to this other girl because she was making such harsh comparisons.
We must use Facebook as a way of connecting and interacting, but not allow ourselves fall into the temptation to wish for what we don’t have. As Exodus 20:7 says, “Do not want anything that belongs to someone else. Don’t want anyone’s house, wife or husband, slaves, oxen, donkeys, or anything else.” Our jealousy can get in the way of experiencing the blessings we already have in our lives.
God desires our full attention and a relationship with His children. Exodus 20:5 says, “… I am the Lord your God and I demand all of your love.” If the creator of the universe demands our love, should we focus our time around being thankful for our blessings or envying others’ blessings? Think about the extent of God’s love for you as you listen to the video below.
Please read James 4:2-4 and mediate on how loving worldly things relates to you. Take the time to thank God for all He has provided for you and ask for guidance in the face of jealousy.
I challenge you this week to put a post-it near or on your computer to remind you to fight envy, whether it is on Facebook or any other internet outlet. On the note write, “He is jealous for me.” The God of the universe demands your love so why not give it to Him?
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*Shania’s name was changed for confidentiality.
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