Infinite Sum Game

A zero sum game refers to the idea that in a competitive field, one person's gains translate to another person's losses. Many of us approach life with this attitude and can feel bitter when another person's good fortune seems to outshine our own, especially when we believe ourselves to be more deserving. We can see this in the parable of the prodigal son, where the faithful son will not go to the party celebrating his brother's return because he never got any parties and he was a much better son. But what the brother fails to realize is that he actually has been given a party, and yes, the reason for the party is the safe return of his brother, but it's still a party and he was invited. I think what the prodigal son's brother fails to realize with his zero sum mindset is how much better his life is going to be now that he's got his brother back. Even though the prodigal son is getting a party right now and the brother isn't, the number of parties in one's life is not the only way to judge how good one has it. The two brothers have each other in their lives again. They'll be able to help each other out, lift each other up, laugh and play and weep and pray together. Surely that's worth suffering through one undeserved party. If we see someone near us getting success, then we should be happy because the sum total of good in our neighborhood has gone up. There's a saying that the rising tide lifts all boats. If our neighbor or our brother or our friend has something great happen to them, we could bitterly focus on the ways that such a person is more undeserving than we are, or we can embrace their good fortune and focus on how that person having a better life will lead to all sorts of unseen improvements in our life. And when we have success, we should not presume that we are more deserving than others, but do our best to share our good fortune with those around us in any way we can. God is infinite in His capacity to bless us and we should never assume that a blessing is ever intended to make only one life better. God gives abundantly in the hope that we will follow His example and give abundantly as well.