Prosper
Who is more deserving or works harder or is more honest than I?
Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in evil schemes. Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil. - Psalm 37:8-9
I guess it is only normal for each of us to feel we are the ones who do the right things and struggle, while others who do the wrong things prosper.
One of the great things about what I do each day is that occasionally I get to hire someone to help us, either for a day or a week or longer. But an interesting thing happens when I do that. One or two others will be upset when they see someone else get the opportunity to work for pay.
They will take me aside to tell me how dishonest or untrustworthy or lazy the person I hired is. I should have hired them, they say.
It hurts to see someone else prosper, even if the prosperity is small.
The psalmist tells us not to focus on the earthly rewards of the wicked, but that's hard to do when we feel we are more worthy.
But in the case where I give someone a job and someone else complains, who is being wicked? If I could hire another, would I want to hire the one who complains?
The one who gets angry winds up losing in the end. So what is the right strategy, to watch someone who I feel is undeserving benefit?
It is hard to do, but complaining about it doesn't make me look better.
But I have to admit that I would like to give the one who complains a chance, but I have in the past and he still finds fault with my decisions.
I guess some people will not be happy unless they benefit and others do not.
Do you agree, or am I just rationalizing for my own benefit?
Hmm.
More to come...