Is Life Unfair?
by Don R. Richards
Life seems so unfair. Is is sometimes so hard to understand why things happen and turn out like they do.
I have trouble understanding why certain people have certain things happen to them. It seems as though some of us are just lucky, and others of us are unlucky.
Why do certain people win the lottery? How does my neighbor afford that new car? Why can those people get that nice big house; and why does a co-worker get all the best job opportunities?
I see that people around me have much greener pastures than I have. I envy my church brother who prays public prayer better than I do. And why is it that everyone in church always compliments a sister’s casserole, but never mention my casserole or apple pie?
Life would be better if I could keep up with Brother Jones. I desperately want what he has. I know I am just as talented. I certainly deserve to have what he has as much as he does.
It is difficult to go through life without finding myself envious of another at times. It may be your neighbor, your best friend, your brother, your co-worker or another church member.
Our envy leads us to attempt to copy, or “keep up” with our neighbor. Or, in worse cases, leads us to “out do” them or even attempt to “put them down” or discredit them with, our friends.
The Bible speaks of this as coveting our neighbor. It is our strong desire that sparks our motives in dealing with our neighbors and friends.
Envy and covetousness is not a minor problem. It is not a new problem. It is a problem that can rob us of our enjoyment of the Kingdom of Heaven.
It is the subject of the Lord’s last commandment, and one which the Lord goes into some detail to explain.
Like all of the Lord’s Ten Commandments, the lOtb is easy to read and understand. It does not need a lot of detailed or exhaustive interpretation. But, like the other commandments, it bears reviewing by each of us on a regular basis:,
"Neither shalt , thou desire thy neighbor’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor’s.” Deut. 5:21; Exodus 20:17.
The Book of Luke tells us where Jesus also gives us a lesson in coveting. “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15.
When we are envious of another’s possessions or talents, it means we must be unhappy with the things with which the Lord has blessed us. Envy and covetousness is a challenge to the gifts the Lord has given us because we are in fact rejecting our grace and seeking that of another.
Each of us is given our distinctive gifts. Romans 12:6 tells us that each of us is given “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us...” We are given a parable as to how to make our gifts to grow in number and quality. Matt. 25:15-29 Jesus discusses the master who gave his servants various amounts of goods before he embarked on a trip. Upon his return the master discovered that some of the servants had used and invested what he had given to them such ‘that his gift to them had grown. One servant, however, had taken his gift and buried it so as not to lose it. The master rewarded those who had used and developed their gifts, but took away the one gift of the servant who had not used his, but had instead buried it.
The Lord has blessed each of us with a gift different from others. If we: want it to grow, we should use it. In 1 Cor. 12:7-31 the Apostle Paul tells us that the same Spirit gives to each of us different gifts. As a whole the gifts work as one in the manner as designated by Christ.
There is a great blessing in our being content with what we have or can develop through use.
“... godliness with contentment is great vain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Tim 6:6-8.
‘The Apostle Paul goes on in Timothy to tell us that those persons whose basic sole ambition is to be rich in money will fall into temptation and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
We must fight our covetousness on a daily and hourly basis. The real blessing is being content to use what we have to its fullest so that we are, "rich in good works."
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