Jeffrey R. Holland wrote:
“. . . . One observer has written: “In a world that constantly compares people, ranking them as more or less intelligent, more or less attractive, more or less successful, it is not easy to really believe in a [divine] love that does not do the same. When I hear someone praised, “it is hard not to think of myself as less praiseworthy; when I read about the goodness and kindness of other people, it is hard not to wonder whether I myself am as good and kind as they; and when I see trophies, prizes and rewards being handed out to special people, I can’t avoid asking myself why that didn’t happen to me.”3 If left unresisted, we can see how this inclination so embellished by the world will ultimately bring a resentful, demeaning view of God and a terribly destructive view of ourselves. Most “thou shalt not” commandments are meant to keep us from hurting others, but I am convinced that the commandment not to covet is meant to keep us from hurting ourselves.
How can we overcome such a tendency so common in almost everyone? For one thing we can do as these two (prodigal) sons did and start making our way back to the Father. We should do so with as much faith and humility as we can summon. Along the way we can count our many blessings, and we can applaud the accomplishments of others. Best of all we can serve others, the finest exercise for the heart ever prescribed. But, finally, these will not be enough. When we are lost, we can “come to ourselves,” but we may not always be able to “find ourselves.” Only Father and His Begotten Son can do that. Salvation is in Them only. So we pray that They will help us, that They will “come out” to meet and embrace us and bring us into the feast They have prepared. They will do this!. . . ~Jeffrey R. Holland, Trusting Jesus (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. 2003), 163-64
3. See Henry J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Meditation on Fathers, Brothers, and Sons (New York: Doubleday, 1993), 103.
