Matthew 20:20-21 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
Salome, the mother of James and John, and the wife of Zebedee came to Jesus with a prayer request.She requested that her sons take the right and the left seats in the Kingdom of Heaven, right next to Jesus. Jesus rejected her request. The unanswered prayer of Salome is packed with spiritual lessons for you and for me.
James and John came from a financially stable family. Zebedee, their father, had a thriving fishing trade and had hired servants working for him. Their business partners were Peter and Andrew. When Jesus called the young men to follow Him they left their father Zebedee and the promising future, to follow the Messiah. This was a big deal. It is like resigning a well paid job with great growth prospectus to obey the call. So, the mother came to Jesus with the “entitlement mentality” and politely demanded a prestigious position in the Kingdom of Heaven because of the sacrifice the boys had made. A demanding prayer with an entitlement mentality was declined.
God does not owe us anything. A person with an entitlement mentality believes that they deserve extraordinary privileges, rewards or recognition because of their commitment, sacrifice or efforts. They carry an unspoken expectation of ‘special treatment’. They are often complaining, resentful and lack gratitude. To demand blessings in exchange for obedience is to trade faith for fame and purity for corruption. Demanding prayers with entitlement mentality will not be answered.
Unanswered demanding prayers:
- Demand: We submit to God’s plan and abandon power, position or possession because we love Him. Love never demands – it gives without expectation.
- Delusion: Entitlement is a delusion that is deceiving. Love is obedient at any cost.
- Declined: Favour follows the humble and contrite in spirit not the haughty and complaining soul. Demanding prayers are declined even before they leave the lips of the entitled.
Demanding prayers will receive an automatic reply from heaven – ‘request declined’.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, You owe me nothing; teach me to live under your love, grace and favour. Amen
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