Overcoming Victimhood #2 of 2

Continuing now with part 2… 

Learn from the prodigal’s brother.

You remember the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15? The story consists of two brothers and a loving father. The younger brother was egotistical and impatient, wanting his inheritance immediately instead of waiting until later in life. I’m sure his dad hurt badly as he gave the selfish son his future inheritance. The son then went and spent all he had living a wasted and empty life. Finally, he ran out of money, and his lovers, friends, and fans all abandoned him, forcing him to eat slop with the pigs. The son recognized that he made a grave mistake, decided to swallow his pride, and headed back home. He hoped his dad would have pity on him. It proved true. The loving father received him with open arms and threw a giant party for his wayward son who returned home. But as his dad was rejoicing that his son had come home, the older brother became livid. Why would his dad kill the fatted calf and throw a party for the younger brother who had wasted all that he had in the first place? The older brother was right. He was the one who had stayed to help and had been faithful and loyal, yet the bratty, younger brother was the one who received the party. It was just unfair! 

I find it a little odd the Bible concludes the story there. It doesn’t appear the dad reprimands the younger, egotistical and sinful brother. He just tells the older brother to be happy the younger brother is back home. It seems very unfair! The older brother is the victim. He was faithful, loyal, honest, and true to his dad, but he gets no party. But there are some lessons in here for everyone: 

• • God doesn’t want us to focus on others, but to focus on Him. We are not everyone else’s judge, we must continue doing right ourselves. 
  • God wants us to be happy for others. If we are going to look at others, we are to be happy for them, not jealous or envious of them.
  • God expects us to do right no matter what others do. Whether others walk away, offend us, mistreat us, curse God, or curse us, we are still supposed to do right. 

It seems unfair that the younger brother was rebellious, wasted funds, and was unappreciative to his dad, yet he still got the party. The older brother probably felt like the victim here and could’ve started his own support group, but neither his dad nor Scripture gave room for it. God’s teaching isn’t based on your feelings, and God’s principles stand firm in spite of your feelings. The victim mentality will lead you to follow feelings, but God wants you to walk by faith. 

Where’s your focus? 

The victim mentality is a sure and quick way to gain attention. Many books, quotes, songs, and groups seem to center around being victimized. Although there certainly are people who have been hurt, the victim mentality thrives on being self-focused. God’s Word and God’s way places the focus on Christ, not on man’s hardships and feelings. This is not to say that God doesn’t care about feelings, but that God wants His children to be focused on Him more than on their feelings. God tells His followers to deny themselves (Mark 8:34), to not think it strange to go through trials (1 Peter 4:12), to rejoice in persecution (Matthew 5:10-12), and to realize that offenses will come (Matthew 18:7). Difficulties, trials, and hard times are not abnormal for a believer, it’s part of life. We are told that if we faint in the day of adversity, our strength is small (Proverbs 24:10). If you are focused on yourself, there will be plenty of opportunities to become offended. If you are focused on God and His Word, you can have peace and not be offended (Psalm 119:165). Your focus will determine your feeling. Being a victim is rooted in focusing on self while being a victor is rooted in being focused on Christ!

Let’s close out this chapter meditating on the true old hymn entitled “I Shall Not Be Moved.” The words are powerful and will help you avoid the victim mentality. There are plenty of things in this world that will knock you down and cause you to want to quit, but this song teaches us to stay rooted in the eternal Christ and not be uprooted by the storms of life.

Though all hell assail me, I shall not be moved.
Jesus will not fail me, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
I shall not be moved.

Though the tempest rages, I shall not be moved.
On the Rock of Ages, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters.
I shall not be moved.