This is something that we must consider seriously because the world in which we live has such a strange idea of fairness, justice and right order. The society today preaches to us over and over a materialistic "equality" which is contrary to God's order and plan. We must learn and accept the fact that we are not all equal. We have been made by God each one unique and special. No two of us are exactly alike (not even identical twins).
God's goodness is shown in giving to each of us not a material exactness of equality, but truly as He knows we need. To some is given more to others less. And there is no injustice in this because God sees what is for the good of our souls and eternal life. We find that those whom He loves the most he chastises the most. The closer one comes to God the more he must suffer. Those who draw away from God often appear to succeed in this world. God allows them to do so and gives them what they so passionately desire because this is all the pleasure that they will receive for all eternity. After this life such souls will suffer forever in Hell, because they have turned away from God. God is just; their temporary reward is for the small acts of kindness or goodness that they do from time to time. These acts merit a temporal reward but not an eternal one.
The material things of this world are not always what they seem to be. They are often the source of great trials and tribulations. If we knew the trouble that those who have more must go through, we would be thankful for the fact that we do not have more. And when we have become truly wise we even begin to wish that we had even less than we do.
Some of us can relate to the workers who bore the heat and burdens of the day's labour. We struggle and labour our entire lives for the eternal reward of Heaven. There are others who seem to come in at the last minute with very little struggle or labour and they too merit an eternal reward in Heaven. Those who have laboured long and hard should be happy and rejoice that this one that was lost has been found; that there is another to give honour and glory to God forever in Heaven. That God is good and generous to them takes nothing away from the reward that He gives to those who have served Him faithfully their entire lives.
Many of the Israelites of the Old Testament were lost because they would not accept the fact that God would accept the other nations into His fold. They who had laboured to keep the covenant with God for centuries could not stand the fact that the Gentiles were welcomed to the same reward.
All the labours and struggles are for nothing if all merit is lost because of an envious spirit. What did it profit the Israelites for all they did, if when God came to earth they rejected Him and turned away from Him, because He was generous with His bounty to others? There are many who call themselves "Christians", "Catholic", or "Traditionalists" who will be damned because they are envious of the good that God gives to others. How foolish this is. God has plenty for everyone. We lose nothing when God is generous to others. On the contrary we are given another opportunity to glorify God in His goodness and mercy which is being manifested in others.
Even if we should serve God as faithfully as Job (And who can say that they have done this?) and then He takes it all away from us, in an apparent act of complete injustice, what have we lost? All the things of this earth belong to God, nothing belongs to us. He is free to give and take away as He pleases. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Let us compare ourselves to our true role model and pattern, Jesus Christ. Let us follow Him in humility, prayer, and sacrifice, and know that we have never done enough; and that any and all good that does come to us is not from our own merits but from the merits of Christ. Then, even though we be the last or have the least we shall be first. Those who were the first and have the most, if they get the last place, they have been given a generous reward also, because they at least have been given a place, even though they could do nothing to merit it.
"So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."