Luke 9:49 (ESV Strong's)
Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”
Tag: Watching The World of Others
We are all “other watchers.” We like to watch people, watch their lives and gaze into their matters. The disciples were not exempt from this type of worldly behavior. The problem with this story is taht we don’t know their motive. We don’t know if this was done out of loyalty or envy or what the reason might have been. We only know they brought the matter to Jesus. That should indicate they were not envious. However, note what happened a few moments earlier:
Luke 9:37-40 (ESV Strong's)
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
Earlier, these same disciples were not successful of doing the very thing these observed “disciples” were doing. It would be hard for them, in human nature, to not be envious of what they saw these other disciples doing. It could have been motivated by loyalty or fidelity, but, probably envy. That has not changed much in the centuries since this scene took place. Believers and church leaders watch and observe other church leaders and, motivated by “loyalty” or “fidelity” or “envy,” they react in similar fashion. It is often, regretfully, envy that motivates. This is especially true when we see other “ministries” able to accomplish something we can’t. Jesus gives these disciples and us a valuable principle to follow and truth to live by. If someone is not fighting against us in faith, they are with us. Our envy and jealousy needs to be in check with that overriding truth. We ought not compare ourselves with others. It is not wise.
2 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV Strong's)
Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
But, if we do, Jesus’ gives us wisdom of when not to do it.
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