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Proverbs 30:32-33 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth. For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife. (NKJV)
For alot of people, being right is the end all, be all. They know they are right, and they are going to fight it out until everyone else knows they are right. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were only talking about non-Christians, but who among us hasn’t witnessed a fellow Christian who will not quit until their point is proven, no matter what it is obviously doing to the relationship?
And what if you really are right? SO WHAT! There are many other things more important. (I’m not talking about morality or essential doctrinal issues. I’m addressing common disagreements, opinions, offenses and minor conflicts; typical day-to-day stuff)
Is being right more important than restoring your relationship with your spouse? Is being right more important than being a good example for a weaker Christian? Is being right more important than showing respect and deference? Is being right more important than bringing peace to a situation?
“Yeah, maybe.. but I’m right! I mean I’m REALLY right! Am I just supposed to standby and let everyone think I’m wrong? That’s not fair!” Oh, get over yourself.
Being right is not really the issue anyway when it comes to a person who is always right, and worse, won’t stop until everyone agrees they are right. The real issue is pride, immaturity and insecurity.
Pride that causes a person to shrivel at the thought of someone not esteeming them as highly as they should. Pride that someone might not be convinced of the “rightness” of your opinion. Pride that someone else may get off the hook about something they were wrong about. Pride that just eats a person alive who can’t have their say for all to hear.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
That is one of the best pieces of advice any person will ever learn. For one thing, if you are a person who doesn’t constantly battle every single point, when you do speak up, people listen.
Life is so much more pleasant and stress-free when you don’t feel like you have to right every wrong, prove every point, voice very opinion and defend every offense. It’s a hard skill to learn, but one that is very liberating. It is truly a freedom to not feel like you have to convince the whole world you are right, especially if you’re one of those special people who are “always right”.
Are you a person who argues alot and just can’t let something go until you have proven your point? Especially when you believe you are right? Then don’t be surprised at the turmoil and carnage in your relationships.
When you churn milk, this tumultuous motion makes butter. It takes something light, soft and fluid and hardens it. It changes the nature of the milk. When you punch someone in the nose, guess what? You get blood and broken bones.
When you fight over every little thing, always have to be right and won’t give up until you prove your point… don’t be surprised when your relationships change into something hardened and broken.
Loving Father, You’re the only one who is right all the time. Help us to get over our need to protect our precious self-image and learn not to sweat the small stuff. Give us the wisdom to know there are many things more important than being right all the time. In Jesus Name, amen.
Contemplation: Do you feel the need to correct every wrong? When you feel you are “right”, does that make you feel justified to prove it? Say your truly are right about some situation with another person, can you name others things that might be more important than being right that would cause you to forego proving your point?
Application: Being right is not the end all be all. Relationships, peace, character and holiness are all more important. The urge to battle out minor offenses and disagreements “because I’m right” has nothing to do with being right, and everything to do with being prideful.
James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)
- What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?
- What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?
- What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?
(seriesid:22)