Hello, loyal readers. Sorry for the posting delay. Last week I was at the Biltmore Church of Christ in Asheville, North Carolina. I gave a "Missional Church" seminar there, which was very well received. Just so you know, I usually try to post a new thought by each Tuesday, with follow-up comments throughout the week.
I just read how Avery Johnson, the first-year head coach of the Dallas Mavericks is seeking reworking of his coaching contract. He is scheduled to make $2.5 MILLION dollars this year and the next two years. However, he took the Mavs to the NBA finals in only his first year as coach, and his coaching salary is in the bottom third of the league.
One sports writer said it well. This is not about money--$2.5 million is enough there--but about respect. And if someone else makes more, even if we are doing fine, and we feel that we are doing a better job, it bothers us. It's easy to pick on Avery, but we probably would feel the same thing in the same type of situation, right or wrong. Human nature.
Is it ever appropriate to compare ourselves to others?
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6 months ago
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First off, some of us have been waiting patiently for you to post another cool thought. . waiting. . waiting. . waiting. . .
Just kidding. We just got back from a part work/part vacation trip to Honolulu, Hawaii so I've been out of the loop as well.
Second, dude, you're not seriously asking for us to comment on something that has to do with the NBA. Professional basketball? That's it. I definitely need to get you, Brunk and Kilson to a Royals game or have you over to my place for some NFL (the NEW national pasttime) once the season begins. Go Raiders!
But seriously, making a comparison of ourselves to others seems to come naturally, and not just from a status or monetary sense. I found myself just the other day asking myself why I couldn't see the world positively like a friend of mine, or have the purity and integrity of another friend. I've wondered how some of my friends have so many breaks and I don't while others have so many hardships and I don't.
I get caught up with that, and I've learned the enemy uses it against me. Comes at me with guilt or hurt, and while I know he only knows what I tell him, it's hard not to buy into the lies sometimes. Still working on that. Progress, not perfection.
I've found I sometimes fall into the trap of emulating the actions of coworkers at times and have to literally step back from things before I jump into a conversation belittling another behind his/her back or wondering why I don't make as much as so and so and do more work than they do.
I don't know that there is an easy answer to it, but trying to stay humble is hard. . and it's completely contrary to what our flesh wants to do. We want to feel better than others and feel we have something that sets us apart from others.
In college I encountered new Christians who used the very thing we should be sharing as a means to measure who they felt were worthy enough to be friends with, talk with or be around.
At the end of the day I've tried to reassure myself that I'm no better than anyone else, I just happen to have something everyone else needs. It's not status. It's certainly not the limited funds in my bank account, and it's definitely not any of the small talents I possess.
It's unconditional love only the Father can give. I have it and I need to share it. If I'm keeping score with someone I can't be Jesus to them, and what if I'm the only one willing to be that in their lives?
When his team finishes in last place next season, I doubt he will ask for a pay cut! A contract should stand.
Just like our contract when we put Christ on in baptism, we better remain faithful like we said we would. Thank you Christ for not making us pay you back when we fail. I love you GOD!
Agreeing with Anon up there. While his pay is lower than some of the others out there, he is new to the Coaching Scene, and if he keeps proving himself worthy, he can use that as a jumping off point for contract negotiations when his current one is up. (by the way, 2.5 mil for telling a group of folks what to do is a little ridiculous.. they need to do something else with that money, maybe then I wouldn't have such a hard time finding health care :/)
As Vasquez said, its natural to compare ourselves to the next and say "Well, he gets this much... Why can't I?" I think the only person we need to compare ourselves to is Christ, because in the end, the people that aspire to be like Christ are the ones sitting on the better contract.
Off-topic, did you get my email I sent pertaining to last sunday? Thanks again...
Matt
Mark,
The NBA playoffs were unbelievable last year, and my team rocked, even if they did choke in the finals. I'm up for baseball and NFL too, although we haven't had real baseball around here in a long while . . . but going with Brunk, Kilson and you to a Royals game sounds great.
I like what you said about finding unconditional love in Christ. If we want to find respect, it should come through our identity as God's children, not in how much we make relative to others.
Anonymous and Matt.
Great points--we don't ask for downward adjustments or tell the boss, I"m getting paid too much. And he can get a better contract when his first is up.
Kind of off point - in general, companies ought to be pro-active in making sure that their employees pay is in line with their performance and the market. They ought to be going to the employee, rather than the other way around. To be fair, in this case, Avery has been publicly upbeat about his owner and has not complained.
Okay boys. Sports analogies aside...I think as far as our spiritual selves go we are to compare ourselves only to Christ. This will show us our glowing faults and keep us humble and trying. As far our job performance, pay, etc. why wouldn't we compare ourselves to our co-workers and only ask for what is right and fair. Then there is the matter of "keeping up with the Jones" comparisons and that only leads to greed, envy, jealousy and arrogance. Never a good idea.
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