Grass is Greener Syndrome

When someone breaks out the cliche, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence," we know exactly what they mean. We know it on a logical level--people tend to envy what they don't have, and on a personal level--we are never quite satisfied with where we are in life.

The danger of this mentality is that we will become so deceived that we will leave behind what is mundane and wonderful for what it exciting and inevitably disappointing. A wife will leave her unimaginative husband of twenty years for an exciting journey of freedom--one that will leave her heart empty from unsatisfying romantic rendezvous, unpaid bills, and a general sense of having lost everything meaningful. A husband may try to break out of his perceived professional hamster wheel by quitting and become a professional fighter (and loser) in the UFC.

The problem with the cliche mentioned above is that it doesn't tell us why the grass is always greener. It is not simply that we are never satisfied with our patch of grass, or that we are always envious of another. The problem is that we are focused on the grass.

Grass is Greener Syndrome--GiG Syndrome--is the condition by which one looks to their circumstances for their sense of value and meaning.

And if we are honest with ourselves, we all have GiG Syndrome. For some reason (sin), we all are terribly interested--obsessed even--with our patch of grass. Is it any surprise then that we desire another patch? Why would that seem foolish to us when we are already spending our day watch the grass like a bunch of sheep?

God's servant, James, wrote that we must "Count in all joy...when (we) face trials of various kinds" (1:2) Why? Because we realize, as Christians, that reigning over this patch of grass is a God who tests us and grows us and conforms us more into the image of His Son (vv 3-4). We do not look to the grass, but to the God who grows the grass and set us upon our patch.

The double-minded man (v8), on the other hand, is blown and tossed by the waves of his circumstances. In other words, by doubting the hand of God in his affairs, he goes from patch to patch, eating and not being satisfied. That is how much of us spend our lives--driven to and fro, like Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty and foolish king, celebrating our awesomeness while feeding from the grass like fools.

The Christian, knowing his own sinful nature, realizes that he is tempted by the grass, as foolish as that is. Thus, he prays for wisdom (v5) to see the grass for what it is--a bunch of grass--and worship the Lord who was never blown and tossed by the waves, but walked upon them and rules over them for the sake of His people.

My friends, you may feel that your life is disappointing or unsatisfying due to certain circumstances, but you are wrong. The disappointment does not come from the circumstances, but from your heart. You are eating grass, or longing for new grass, with the assumption that grass can make you full. It will not. Ultimately, it will make you feel foolish.

It is only Christ who can make you content in all circumstances (Phil. 4). Only in lifting our eyes from the grass to the skies, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God, will we find our lives hidden with Christ in God, and know that Christ, who is our life, will one day appear--and us with Him--in glory (Col. 3).

We all have GiG Syndrome. The first step toward recovery is admitting our problem.

"My name is Steve, and I have the GiG."

The second step is admitting that we need help.

"I cannot get my mind off the grass. I need Someone to lift my eyes toward Heaven. I need Jesus."