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!
And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison : but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 25 : 28.
What is this? You see this family. Both Esau and Jacob are their sons. But each love his/her own? Are they not their own children? Do not they have the responsibility to love both equal? This happens even today in our families. Why? It is because that the love between human beings is not of complete nature. Though we do not prefer to accept this fact (most of us do not agree), that our love towards all your family members is not complete in nature.
There will be reasons behind our love towards others. We may say that there are no such reasons why you love somebody. But, deep in your heart, you may find the reason for it. For instance, in this verse, you may notice the reasons recorded in the Bible itself. The reasons for such love do exist.
Look at this verse: And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. The word of God is true. You can believe and rely on it. As the word of God confirms Isaac loved Esau, the reason thereof is he eats his venison. What? See, the food is the reason for his love towards Esau? You may laugh. But the same food has made Esau to lose his birthright. And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him : and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:33-34. If the reason for your love towards others is of this worldly nature like –food, riches, other’s help in certain matters etc., this will not last long time. This love is not of permanent nature as the base for your love is not of permanent nature.
Why cannot Rebekah love Esau? Does she not like venison of Esau? No. It is not the venison. Is he not her son? Then, why does she love Jacob more than Esau? Are they not her two children? In this world, people compare the love of mother to the love of the Creator God. You may observe in this verse- but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 25 : 28. You may notice – but Rebekah loved Jacob. Why “BUT”? This “but” may confirm that she differed in loving Esau. If the parents’ love is biased, who can love you more than them? This is the reason the Bible says – Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb ? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah 49:15.
Let us see the probable reason why Rebekah loves Jacob? And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her,Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Genesis 25:22-23. The Lord has revealed Rebekah that this younger Jacob will be a strong nation than the elder Esau. This could be one of the reasons why she likes Jacob. If your love towards others is for their high status, power, authority, or special talents etc., this also does not last long.
This partiality-love has made both of them to behave cunningly to transfer/give the blessing from Isaac to their respective loved-children. The blessing is with Isaac. Though this blessing has gone to Jacob as the Lord has told it before they are born, it may be identified that they walked with partiality. (1) Isaac wants to transfer the blessing to Esau after eating the venison. (2) Rebekah heard this secret and told a plan to steal this blessing by deceit. Read this verse from the Bible –
And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death : now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison ; and make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat ; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Genesis 27: 2-8
This does not mean that there is none who can love you with complete heart. Lord loves you so much. His love is of complete and of permanent nature. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3. The love of the lord is everlasting. This will not change according to time, your behavior, your region, your nationality, your race, your language. This is completely unbiased. This love has made the Lord to send the only begotten son to this world. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life John 3:16. This love made him to offer himself as sacrifice for all our sins.
Look at the differences between these two loves- love of a man and love of God.
Love of man (like Isaac or Rebekah) who loved their children. The reason for their love is not because they are born to them but because of their liking of certain features/qualities in their respective loved children. As discussed earlier, this will not last long. At the most level, they may try to give you something like the blessing from Isaac. You may notice when Esau asked his father for blessing, after Jacob had sealed the blessing from his father, Isaac replied as that he had only one blessing. Look at this! What the love of this worldly nature can give you? Even the result of this love profits you nothing. In this context, Isaac was unable to give another blessing to his son Esau. Therefore -The Love of man- (1) has reason for this love which could be worldly in nature (2) This is not permanent in nature and therefore it changes according to the situation (3) This may/may not even bring you a blessing/profit.
But the Lord –(1) Loves you with everlasting love (2) The reason for His love is love itself (3) This love sacrificed his life on the cross for you. (4) His love can give you number of blessings, not like the only one blessing that Isaac had. This everlasting love gives you everlasting life too after your death.