Many families have been divided over money.  On this occasion, a man who believed he had been unfairly cheated out of his inheritance appealed to Jesus to make his greedy brother share the money or land.  But Jesus refused.  It was not His job to be a judge because He had come to be a Saviour (John 12:47).  This complaining man was in greater danger than he realised. ‘It is you who needs to watch out’, Jesus said, ‘Your life is not measured by what you possess!’  

The man may have expected sympathy but instead he got a rebuke.  Although he claimed that his brother had been greedy, selfishness ran in the family.  In appealing for justice, he was also displaying his own covetousness.  Loving families work best by mutual caring and sharing.  Love produces a powerful desire to give (John 3:16).  When demands and complaints take over, the essence of loving family life is lost.

Jesus' comments were also intended for the trainee apostles as a guide to how Christians should relate together in God's family.  Apparent unfairness would be evident everywhere (Matthew 5:40-42).  Believers should be taught to give wherever they can to relieve the suffering of another's injustice (Galatians 6:2); but the sort of bitterness which demands personal 'justice' is really a mask for selfish greed, and is out of order in God's family (Ephesians 4:31).

Men and women of faith are characterised by giving; not getting their own way or legalistically demanding their rights. True-hearted believers are content with what they have (Hebrews 13:5), while trusting God and fervently praying that He will deliver them (Luke 18:1-8). Jesus demonstrated that in His own response to evil people.  Injustice is always a bad personal insult and yet its potential to provoke our greedy hearts to sin makes it a double enemy.  The devil uses these feelings to tempt us into believing that God does not care and that we must use our own initiative to get what we think is fair.  Proverbs 15:16 says, "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil."  Jesus' warning to this man has become an important caution for every Christian.  So wherever injustice rears its head (in the family, church or at work), recognise the temptation which will travel with it and place it before the Lord.  He has the love and power to do what is right for you and those you love.  Trust Him to sort it out!