Faith Will Keep You Focused
“Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.””
Luke 12:13 NKJV
After first reading this passage, I thought of how it feels to want what someone else has. Not specifically their thing, but one of my own. It’s way too easy to then request, in your spirit that God would give it to you too. I think having this thought every so often is probably normal. However, feeding that thought by developing feelings of anger, hatred, or anything that isn’t good is where we go wrong. After a little bit, I then thought of how it really feels to want someone else’s stuff and how it’s not a good feeling.
I like Jesus’s response to him though.
“But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?””
Luke 12:14 NKJV
Quickly, Jesus pushes the physical issue back onto this man. By responding in this way, it tells me that Jesus isn’t here to balance the scales of our perceived injustices. While we want Jesus to hear our hearts and prayers and to give us what we see others have, Jesus is saying that isn’t His responsibility. However, I do feel that Jesus likes to speak to us about issues that would keep us from entering heaven. As you will see by his response, the concern is about this man’s heart and everyone who is there.
Then He offers them a warning about those feelings of covetousness.
“And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.””
Luke 12:15 NKJV
After the warning, He then gives them one of the best affirmations anyone could receive. He tells them your life is more than the things you possess. His response to the feelings of covetousness tells us that the real problem is feeling inadequate. Which is why having those thoughts and feelings here and there happen, but feeding them is a symptom of feeling inadequate. This feeling of inadequacy is something we can control.
One way to control these feelings is to stay focused on your faith. Specifically, faith that leads you to faith-filled actions. When you submerse yourself into the calling God has placed upon you, it becomes difficult to be jealous of others; not impossible, but difficult and less likely. Start by looking up passages about faith, not just one scripture, but passages. You might find it easier to read a scripture based devotional about faith. These are a few of the things that will lead you to faith-filled actions.
Journal the Journey
