Sa taong mayabang, ako’y naiinggit nga, at sa biglang yaman ng mga masama.

Awit 73:3

“Ang unfair ni Lord.”

Iyan ang nasabi ni Jenny sa kaibigan niyang si Kim habang nakaupo sa pantry, pilit na itinatago ang luha. Katatapos lang ng announcement sa kanilang opisina — at ang napili para sa promotion ay ang katrabaho niyang tamad, palaging late, at mayabang.

Jenny couldn’t help but ask, Bakit siya? Bakit hindi ako?

Matagal na niyang pinagpe-pray ang promotion na ’yun. She’s been serving in her church, faithfully attending Bible studies, and doing her best sa trabaho. Pero ngayong nakita niya kung sino ang pinaboran, parang hindi na siya sigurado kung worth it pa bang maging tapat sa Diyos.

This is the quiet danger of inggit — it chips away at our trust in God. We start to doubt His justice. We question His goodness. And we begin to wonder if living a life of faithfulness is even worth it.

Jenny’s feelings echo those of Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73. He was brutally honest with God: “Naiinggit ako sa mga mayayabang. Bakit parang mas pinagpapala pa ang mga masama?”

He even confessed, “Did I keep my heart pure for nothing??” (v. 13, NLT). He felt defeated and bitter. Like Jenny, he thought of giving up.

Ngunit nagbago ang lahat nang pumasok si Asaph sa sanctuary ni Lord (v. 17). He was reminded by God na pansamantala lamang ang tagumpay sa mundong ito. At dito niya natuklasan ang pinakadakilang katotohanan: ang presensya ng Diyos ang tunay na pagpapala.

Asaph realized that the best reward is not promotion, recognition, or riches. It is God Himself. Ganun din sa atin. When life seems unfair and when envy begins to creep in, let us not be quick to react or complain. Instead, let’s pause and enter the presence of God. He will not only correct our perspective, but will also comfort and heal our wounded hearts.