People around you will form opinions about you based on how you live your life. Some will think highly of you. Others won’t. Rarely is someone loved by everyone.

There was a high-ranking Roman soldier in the first century who lived his life in such a way that everyone had very high opinions about him. So much so that when this man’s beloved servant was on the brink of death, his friends were more than happy to seek out Jesus on his behalf. Here’s what they said to him: “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue” (Luke 7:4,5).

Some people might have similar opinions about you, saying that you’re such a good person you deserve to have God do anything for you. And it’s tempting to agree with them. But when this Roman soldier heard what his friends had done, he quickly sent another entourage with a direct message to Jesus: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof” (verse 6).

Jesus was impressed by this Roman soldier, but not because he built a temple. He was impressed by this man’s faith. The soldier knew that all the great things he had done were nothing compared to the great things Jesus came to do.

Faith in Jesus does not eliminate the impact of great things you do for other people. Faith recognizes that what people think about you isn’t as important as what Jesus did for you.