Arbitrator

When there is a conflict with another person many of us petition the Lord to settle the grievance. Naturally, we want Him to look favorably on us and get the other person in line with our point of view. In the Parable of the Rich Fool a man wanted Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:13-15 NIV). I suspect that in our personal prayers many of us fall into the habit of asking the Lord to be an arbitrator. However, it now occurs to me that rather than simply solving an issue there is a form of greed behind those requests.