On more than one occasion, I thought I knew exactly what was best for my son. I boldly informed God of that. And I’m sure he smiled with amusement when he compared my shortsightedness against the perfection of his grand plan.
You probably have had similar experiences. As we focus this month on loving well, I wanted to share Kathy Collard Miller’s wisdom on this topic. Her latest book, Pure-Hearted, is featured as this month’s giveaway book.
Do You Want the Best for Another?
by Kathy Collard Miller
February is all about love, hearts, loving sentiments, and candy. Yet love can be something easily muddied by our motives. We think we’re loving someone else well (after all, she must love chocolate-I do!), yet maybe it’s not for another’s best. (As in, she’s allergic to chocolate!)
One of the challenges for all of us is thinking we know best for someone else. There’s a woman in the Bible named Salome who thought she knew best for her sons.
Let’s read her story in Matthew 20:20-24:
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
Who could fault Salome’s motives in wanting the best for her precious boys? Plus, she knew they were brilliant!
She is asking for something seemingly right, yet she doesn’t recognize her heart might be muddied by the idea of her sons’ future status and success. Little does she know what she is asking, as Jesus points out.
Unfortunately, our mixed motives often block our ability to pray for the right thing for the person we love. Let’s remember Salome so that we can surrender to whatever God decides is best-even if it’s different than we envisioned. (Like a gift card rather than chocolate!) And ask ourselves, do you REALLY know what’s best for someone else?
