when good things happen to bad people

how many times have we been discouraged when we see an unworthy or "bad" person gain something good? how many times have we questioned God and wondered "why would you bless this person and not me?" i know i'm guilty of that. there are things in my life that i take to the Lord daily. i ask for His direction and will to be accomplished not mine. i still have desires and dreams that i hope He will bless me with. as i struggle through these things with God i see others who aren't walking with Him receive "blessings". i know that they aren't true blessings because God is not in it but it's hard not to look at it that way. and i question God's choice. i read this article this morning and it hit the spot on this topic. here's an excerpt. you can click on the title for the full article.

When Good Things Happen to Bad People
Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse

I can't figure out why people who seem to live only for their selfish pleasures become multimillionaires—while some of my most faithful Christian friends live one paycheck away from homelessness. I'm confounded when people who engage in shady business practices never get caught—they only get richer; when people who lie and lust and gossip seem to go on their merry way.

Life isn't fair. I know bad things happen to good people. But it really bothers me when good things happen to bad people—or at least people who don't seem especially worthy.

When I read my Bible, here's the message I get: Because I've been saved by grace—meaning unmerited favor—my primary task is to become more Christlike through the work of his Spirit in me. As one of God's adopted children, he holds me to a higher standard, and it's a daily, humbling challenge to live up to that standard. In fact, it's often when I'm feeling proud of myself, thinking, Hey, God, look at me! What a good servant I am!, that God shoots off some reminder of my foolishness and dependence on him. When we're tempted to think of ourselves as worthy, Romans 3:23 provides a pithy corrective: All have sinned. None is "worthy" except God alone.

So whenever I whine about the good fortune undeserving people seem to be blessed with while I muddle along, I'm being less like Christ. I've been helped by Oswald Chambers' no-nonsense observation: "Never waste your time looking for justice; if you do, you will soon put yourself in bandages and give way to self-pity. Our business is to see that no one suffers from our injustice."

When we speak of "good things" happening to bad people, we often mean material reward, achievement, worldly success. But God has given each of us so much! We can acknowledge that intellectually, but there are times when we all feel decidedly empty-handed. My friend Vicki says she's been working on this in her own life: "I'm least happy with myself when I pay too much attention to what others have. It's almost as if dwelling on others' good things diminishes what God's given me."

So maybe we don't live in a rambling farmhouse on two acres, like the place I've admired just a few blocks away. I've been blessed with wonderful friends, and I love opening my modest home to those friends. Besides, the things of the world rust and decay. We have a much greater Treasure.

like mentioned in this article, as a Christian my primary focus needs to be on how to be more like Christ. not worrying about the injustices all around me...that makes me less like Christ. the Bible says, "ALL HAVE SINNED". sin is sin and we all do it. it's only because of God's GRACE that He lavishes me with all that i have and that is all i need....that is His blessing.

Heavenly Father,
As I walk through my day may Your Holy Spirit remind me that when circumstances are shaky around me, You remain my Rock and my soul can find refuge in You. When my mind is tempted to focus on the things that steal peace from my heart and mind, may Your Spirit whisper to my soul that You are my strength, my shelter and my resting place. You are the one who daily bears my burdens and is near to those who are crushed in spirit, sustaining them with unexplainable peace in the face of hardship.
You are my Peace.