On Why Some Unbelievers Have It Better than Us

Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology, defines common grace as the "grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation." This also helps us understand why, even though believers have Christ, they may not have it as good (in a worldy sense) as those don't believe:

Finally, we should recognize that unbelievers often receive more common grace than believers--they may be more skillful, harder working, more intelligent, more creative, or have more of the material benefits of this life to enjoy. This in no way indicates that they are more favored by God in an absolute sense or that they will gain any share in eternal salvation, but only that God distributes the blessings of common grace in various ways, often granting very significant blessings tgo unbelievers. In all of this, they should, of course, acknowledge God's goodness (Acts 14:17), and should recognize that God's revealed will is that "God's kindness" should eventually lead them "to repentance" (Rom. 2:4). (p. 663)