Why does my friend have more stuff than me?




Here's the answer:

We often want something someone else has because we think it would also be good for us.

There's something inside every one of us that asks this question from time to time! But God's blessings come in many different packages. Sometimes His blessings come through family, friends, and good health. Sometimes they're spiritual blessings like forgiveness, peace, wisdom, or joy. And sometimes they're things we can see with our eyes such as toys, cars, homes, money, etc. Too often we look at that last group and become sad that we don't have more.

But God has a plan for all of us. For God, the most important thing is our friendship with Him. Maybe having too many "things" would get in the way of that. Maybe having too many things would get in the way of someone else having a friendship with God. We just don't know why we all have different blessings in life. But God knows, and we should trust Him.

Sometimes what we see as a blessing could actually be a bad thing. Jesus had something to say about this in the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16–22. The rich young ruler's money and "stuff" kept him from following Jesus. The young man loved the things he owned more than he loved Jesus.

It's good to remember that having fewer things than someone else doesn't mean God loves you less. Jeremiah 31:3 says, "I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love." This message is to all of us. God doesn't need to prove His love for us by giving us more things. His great love for us was proven by the gift of His Son, Jesus—a gift He wants all of us to have!

God wants us to be happy with the plan He has for our lives and for His blessings, some of which we can't always see with our eyes. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that we should be happy with what we have because He will always be with us. And this is the greatest blessing of all!


Bible
Bible Truth

"You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have. We didn't bring anything into the world. We can't take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that" (1 Timothy 6:6–8).

"Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has'" (Luke 12:15).