1 Corinthians 4:7 -- On Differences and Blessings

"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" 1 Corinthians 4:7 This is a tough one sometimes, because it seems to go against the way that society has taught us that things work. Despite that, it is a valuable perspective to consider that everything comes from God. I don't think that understanding that discounts hard work or makes our efforts pointless. Rather, it illustrates that our work should be directed in the way that the Lord asks, since no matter how hard we work, we are still subject to disaster and tragedy. God is the only thing that can combat those. I also think that the more we really understand and believe this, the less we will be tempted to look down on others, or resent others, because of differences in wealth or status. Maybe it helps us realize that we're all in this life together, and despite what we learn in the world, none of us are better than each other or less worthy of love. Today, let's consider our similarities and the source of our blessings, and work towards uniting God's children rather than dividing them.