Let us read Luke 15:25–32.

“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:25–32)

The value of an object is often determined by its price. There are many reasons why people consider gold more precious than an ordinary stone, but one obvious reason is that gold is far more valuable. If gold were as common and inexpensive as stones, we would probably treat it as we do ordinary stones. The greater the value of something, the more precious we consider it to be.

Then how much are we worth?

It would be a great mistake to think of our value merely in terms of the price once paid for a slave. A person’s life is his entire being, and God purchased us with the life of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the price paid for us was the life of Christ Himself. How amazing it is that God considers us so precious that He gave His own Son for us. Romans 8:32 says:

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Jesus is Lord of all things. Therefore, because we belong to Christ and share in His inheritance, we are able to enjoy all things in Him. This is why the apostle Paul said:

“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.” (1 Corinthians 3:21)

Discontent Comes from Not Knowing What Is Ours

The younger son took his father’s property, went into a far country, wasted everything in reckless living, and finally returned home. Yet his father prepared a feast for him.

When the elder son saw what had happened, he became angry. He said to his father:

“Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.” (Luke 15:29–30)

He spoke this way because he did not understand that everything belonging to his father was already his. Therefore, his father told him:

“Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.” (Luke 15:31)

If he had truly understood this, he would not have drawn such a sharp distinction between what belonged to his father and what belonged to him.

Likewise, if we do not understand that all things are ours in Christ, we may complain against God when we see others possessing more than we do. And the more a person believes that he has lived more faithfully for God than others, the greater that dissatisfaction may become.

Yet Scripture describes us as:

“As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:10)

God Is Our Father, and We Are His Children

Jesus said:

“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” (John 14:20)

Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus. Likewise, Jesus is in us, and we are in Him. Therefore, it is not strange that we should share in what belongs to Christ. God deals with us in this way because He is our Father and we are His children.

Parents rejoice when things go well with their children. They do not begrudge giving what they have to their children. Scripture says:

“Love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10)

Because parents love their children, they do not envy or resent their children’s success. Rather, they desire to see them prosper.

Ye Are Our Rejoicing

The apostle Paul said:

“Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours.” (1 Corinthians 3:22)

If we truly believe this, we will not envy or become jealous of someone who seems to be farther ahead of us spiritually. Instead, knowing that his blessing is also a cause for our joy in Christ, we can rejoice with him and pray for him.

This is why the apostle Paul said:

“Ye are our rejoicing, even as ye also are ours.” (2 Corinthians 1:14)

The elder son did not understand that everything his father had was his, nor did he understand that his brother’s restoration was also a reason for him to rejoice. Had he understood this, he would have joined his father in celebrating the return of his brother who had been lost and was now alive again.

We too sometimes lose the joy that should be ours because of ignorance and mistaken thinking, wasting our time in jealousy, comparison, and conflict. The devil takes advantage of our ignorance to deceive us.

We must never forget that God is our Father.

And our Father delights to give good things to His children.