How You Are Before Others and How You Are For Others!
Usually, your faith is viewed as the relationship between you and your God. This is true. The third person’s role is not required to worship and to be with your Living God every day. But you and I cannot deny the importance of third person (others) while continuing our faith. Can you give up everything and go up to pray alone on a mountain throughout your life? Is it possible to live alone on this earth without your neighbor (others)? Therefore, while living on the earth, there are certain factors which have to be considered while exhibiting our faith. One of the main factors which may influence your faith is – your neighbor. Hence, from the point of view of your faith – how you are before others and how you are for others have much importance.
In this connection, you may read the following passage from the Bible: And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:7-10.
In this context, from the point of view of faith, let us see two things:
(a) How is your faith before others? The centurion had faith. Had not? He had (helped to) build the synagogue. The same centurion told Jesus that he did not need to come under his roof to heal his servant. Jesus was ready to go physically and heal the servant of the centurion. But the centurion was not ready to welcome Jesus to his house. Why? Do you say “no”, if Jesus wants to come you house?
From the centurion point of view, he might have thought in a different way. Look at the verse – For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. If Jesus comes to my house, there will not be any difference between my soldier and Jesus. A soldier who is under my authority has to follow my command and whenever I ask him to come to my house, he has to obey my command and come to my house as I have authority to exercise. How can I say (or ask) the Lord to come to my house? If Jesus comes to my house, there will not be any objection to me but from the point of view of others this might mean as if Jesus has followed the command of the Centurion to visit him at his house.
Though the purpose/intention to meet Jesus at his home is only to heal his servant, the Centurion might have thought that his exhibition of faith towards God should not let the glory of the Lord down before the people (third person/ others). It is because we are all under the authority of the Lord. God can never be a subject to the authority of a man. The centurion rightly understood his authority of this world was limited and the same could not be extended to matters of faith. He exhibited his faith before others by humbling himself before the Lord. Exactly, this is what important for us. You and I may have faith. But while using our faith, it is always important to consider whether any element of others is involved which has to be taken care of so that the Lord’s glory would not shrink before them.
(b) How is your faith for others?
The centurion has much responsibility. He may not have time to spare even for his family. But still, in this context, he finds time to take care of his sick soldier. Taking care of other’s needs is of Christ mind. The Bible says –Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2: 4-5. If taking care of things of others is of Christ mind, how much more value it shall have if your faith in the Lord involves taking care of the things of others? The centurion has used his faith not for himself but for his servant (others).
The centurion has used his faith. In this context, he has well-considered it to use it before others. He (1) has taken care of his exhibition of faith so that the Lord’s glory would not shrink before others. (2) Has used his faith not for himself but for his servant (others) which is of Christ mind. Moreover, he has exhibited his faith by saying that just a word from the Lord is enough which can heal his servant. You may notice that the Lord – Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Hence, from the point of view of your faith, how you are before others and how you are for others also have much importance as these will be considered as main features of great faith!