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“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

This saying, perhaps more than any other, characterizes the ensnarement that many find themselves in when it comes to using social media. It is attributed to a variety of individuals, all of them who lived long before Twitter or Facebook, yet it articulates what so many have experienced when engaging with the social media platforms. As they look at the lives of others, and the number of friends or followers they have, it is easy to feel that their own life is somehow lacking. Joy diminishes as their experiences seem insufficient compared to the online lives of others.

For this reason, and others, some people resist the social siren call. They figure if they aren’t on the platforms, there is little chance that they will be tempted to discontentedness as a result of them. Yet even this can threaten to be a robber of joy as they “miss out” on the news and experiences that people share online. Feeling “out of the loop” can prompt feelings of inadequacy just as much as comparison can.

There is, however, another way to approach the labyrinth that is social media. Instead, of viewing it as a place to share (or not share) what is going on in your life, it can become one more tool to be used for God’s glory. Social media gives each Christian the opportunity to proclaim what God is doing in their lives and to reach many more people than has ever been possible. While there will surely be some who recoil at using the platform for these purposes, opposition has never been an excuse for not doing what God has called a Christian to do. And God has called His children to share His Good News – first in their circles of influence and then in locations across the globe.

So what are some mindsets that we can adopt to use social media well – to ensure that we are using it as a tool that God has given us to further His purposes? Here are three principles

1) Focus on glorifying God

This may seem like the Sunday School suggestion but it is a good practice to ask ourselves before we post – “Why I am sharing this?”. If the answer to the question is anything other than because we think it will give God glory then we clearly need to rethink whether it is something that needs to be shared. In my own life, I have found that this has stopped me from sharing what others may consider pretty innocuous things. I knew that the problem wasn’t the content – in and of itself it was not dishonoring to God – but my motivation for posting it was not what it should be. I was prompted by the desire for human acclaim (“likes” can be compelling little motivators, can’t they?) and not because I was desiring for God to get honor and praise. When we celebrate our kids’ successes, when we share the good things that God has given us, and even when we rejoice in the opportunities He provides, let’s check our hearts to make sure that He is the reason that we want to share these things with the world. If He is not, we need to repent and reconsider our social posting.  But if He is, we should readily proceed. After all, a child of God should constantly be looking for ways to give their Father acclaim.

2) Use it to bless others

We all know that social media can quickly disintegrate into a cesspool of arguments and insults. Not only should Christians refrain from engaging in this way, but instead, we should actively strive to use these platforms to bring good to the lives of other people. I personally have experienced the blessings that come when people use social media with this aim. A friend of mine regularly shares ideas and recipes with me via Pinterest because she knows that I do not like looking for them myself. My mom posts a sincere birthday message to every single person with whom she is friends with on Facebook and because she was a teacher for many years, this includes hundreds of former students. You may not be inclined to either of these particular ideas but you have your own way you can use these channels to encourage, bless, or bring good to others. Whatever the specifics are, make it your goal that because of your use of social media, people’s lives will be full of more goodness than it otherwise would have been. One benefit of such a mindset is that if you are focused on doing good to other people, it leaves little time to make comparison between your life and theirs.

A quick encouragement – if you can, strive hard to use these public platforms to encourage the pastors and ministry leaders who God has used to draw you closer to Him. Galatians 6 says that we should do good to everyone, but that fellow believers should have an extra dose of our attention when it comes to this commitment. Hebrews 13 teaches that we should let our spiritual leaders do their work with joy. We have a part to play in whether we make it easy or difficult for them to find joy in serving us. Use social media to share a way that you have benefited from being under their leadership. Tell them you are praying for them – and be appropriately specific with the requests you make on their behalf, which may prompt others to pray in the same way. Being in a position of spiritual leadership means that you are often subject to public attacks – make sure that they also experience public encouragement through your posts and shares.

3) Keep things in perspective

It has often been noted that on social media you only see the best parts of an individual’s life. After all, no one posts the pictures of the kids with their eyes closed or of the mom trying to coax everyone to look at the camera at the same time. Neither do we see the images of the chaotic house, the disappointing work day, or the hurtful conversation. It is always good to remember that we are only seeing snapshots of others’ lives and it is impossible to make an accurate comparison between it and the full length picture we know of our own story.

However, there is another way in which it is important to maintain perspective. The number of likes, follows, or shares you receive will matter little in Eternity, unless those were indicative of the ways in which you used social media to reach more people for the sake of Christ. If a post doesn’t have a single like, but God uses it to prompt someone to trust in Him, than that is the most valuable post you have, regardless of what the platform’s analytics say. You may not know this side of Heaven how God is using your social engagement to draw others to Him. It is a tool, and as with any tool God has given us, we should use it with discernment and wisdom, but ultimately the results are up to Him. Social media will never reveal our worth; our value should be rooted in the fact that we are children of the King. The comparison is not then between what others have, and what we do not. Instead it is between those that know God, and those who do not. And if we are God’s children, we know that there is nothing else that is of comparative worth.

Titus 2:10 instructs followers of Christ to “adorn the Gospel” – to live in such a way as people find following Christ attractive and appealing. If this is how we are to live our lives, it is certainly how we should engage with social media. As we do so, may many more come to trust in the One Whom we serve.

It is common knowledge that the role of educators has changed over the years. One of the most profound changes is that students expect that their education will be easy, rather than challenging. There is probably a myriad of social and cultural reasons for this, many of which I am ill equipped to address. However, in my own small sphere of influence I work to buck this trend and tell my students from the outset that they can expect to work hard in my class. As I remind them, no athlete should enter a competition without extensive practice, and if they do, they should expect that victory will go to their opposition. My classroom is their practice field. When they enter the world of business, I want them to be well equipped for success, prepared for the obstacles and challenges that they will face.

The same idea applies to the practice of Christian disciplines. Many people struggle with prayer time and Bible study, especially if things are going well. They don’t feel the “need” to immerse themselves with the things of God, so they are quick to neglect them. However, one of the purposes of these regular practices is to make sure that they are in place before the crisis strikes. If they are, we will be more likely to continue them during the difficult days – those seasons where our need for them is more pronounced and more greatly felt.

What is true for our “individual” spiritual disciplines, is also true for our commitment to corporate worship.  Many people realize there need for a Christian community when they are going through difficult times. However, it is those who have regularly participated in Christian fellowship who immediately have the family of God surrounding them when tragedy strikes. They have already made the investment in others’ lives and have experienced the blessing of knowing and serving the body of believers. Because of this, their burden is immediately lessened as they have others who are bearing it along with them.

What does this mean for us? If our commitment to spiritual practices has faltered, recognizing that there is a long-term value to them may spark our commitment to reengage and daily commit to prayer, Bible study, and participation in our local church. If we have maintained these disciplines, may we be encouraged to continue in them knowing that having these practices in place will make it easier to maintain these commitments when we face difficult days. And it is in those days that the blessings of these disciplines may be most fully realized in our lives.