Comparing God’s gifts leaves you short

We often make the mistake of comparing ourselves with others. A judge was very surprised when he read the complaints of those who filed a brief. Before him sat four adult children of a recently deceased multi-millionaire. The older two siblings were contesting their father’s very generous will.

They stated, “We were his children longer than these other two who didn’t come along until ten and twelve years later. We feel that since we were our father’s children longer, we ought to get a higher percentage of his estate.”

The judge sat and thought for a few minutes. Then, shaking his head, he said, “What, are you goofy? Your father gave you everything that he had. It’s a very generous settlement, with no strings attached and all taxes prepaid. You all get equal shares of his great wealth and you come in here complaining because one of you happened to be born ten years earlier than the other? Go home!”

God gives us everything we have: Life itself, the ability to learn and grow and love, plus eternal happiness in heaven. Yet, we often find it easy to complain because of what we perceive we do not have, or that someone has more than we have. To quote the judge, “What, are we goofy?”

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the emphasis was on the incredible forgiveness of the father, rather than on the sinfulness of the son. In like manner, the parable about the labors in the vineyard emphasis the goodness of the landowner, rather than on the reactions of those who thought they were cheated. Jesus wants us to know that God is a loving and generous toward everyone.

On a city block were four houses of different value. One was worth $400,00, the second $300,00, the third $200,000 and the $100,000. The young son who lived in first house asked his dad one day, “How much is our house worth?” The father responded, “About $400,00.”

The son said, “If someone offered you $500,000 for this house, would you take it?”

“I surely would,” replied the father. The next day a housing developer who wanted to build apartment buildings on his property called the father and offered to buy his home for $500,000. He was thrilled to death. However afterwards, when he read in the paper and learned that each homeowner received $500,000, he complained to the housing developer that he was cheated.

We have a bad habit of constantly comparing ourselves with others. Any kind of comparison that puts one person above another person goes against the spirit of Jesus’ teachings.

The “Good Thief,” when he was on his deathbed (the cross), admitted he deserved to be crucified for what he had done in life. Then he turned to Jesus and petitioned him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

We do not know too much about this man’s life. He probably was not a regular worshiper and by his own confession he did enough unlawful and immoral things to deserve execution.

A person could easily say, “I worship God every Sunday, say my daily prayers, and try to care for the needs of others. This thief turns to God at the last minutes of his life and was promised heaven that very day. That’s not fair.”

May God grant us the grace to know and believe that God’s way is always the best way. May we always realize and accept God’s generosity toward all of us. May we accept that generosity with grateful, humble hearts and not compare ourselves with others.