Why Don’t I Have What They Have?
Q. I often wonder when God says that he has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm, (Ephesians 1:3) I wonder what are all these blessings Paul refers to?
Secondly I see with my eyes that there are so many sinners who are so blessed (blessed career, strong financial status, a happy family with a beautiful partner and vibrant health … and many more) and I start to wonder since I am His child, why am I not having all these blessings which these sinners have? Am I going to share with them the gospel and tell them that I am really blessed? They will definitely jeer at me when they look at me now, I cannot even be compared with them … They will tell me I just can’t say God has blessed me.
Then I saw another group who are believers and they are also very successful in life as compared to the sinners … then the question is why are God’s children have different “fate”? Does God show favoritism also?
And Final Blow question that came into my mind was that if I cannot even trust Him to bless me with all these blessings (a happy relationship, a blessed career and material blessings), then am I being naive to trust Him with my salvation? I feel that what I believe about the goodness of God is just a form of self denial…
Please enlighten me, brother Jack, I almost wanted to lead a carnal life and give up my faith … I really wonder if He could still be gracious and offer His forgiveness when I think in this manner? Thanks.
A. The Spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm that Paul spoke of have to do with our life in eternity with the Lord.
As for your situation on Earth, the Lord had David write the answer to your question in Psalm 37. Here’s an excerpt:
“Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” (Psalm 37:1-11)
Stop blaming God because you don’t have what you want and ask Him what you’re doing wrong that prevents Him from blessing you. James said that we don’t have because we don’t ask, and when we do ask we don’t receive because our motives are wrong. (James 4:2-3) Maybe you’re being greedy, resentful, or jealous. Or maybe there’s some unconfessed sin in your life that’s interrupting your communication with God. Maybe you’re seeking material gain for your own pleasure instead of seeking His righteousness.
I suggest you undertake a complete study of this Psalm, and ask the Lord to show you what the problem is.
