Scripture

Job 40:6, 8 (New Living Translation)

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind.…”Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right?”

Consider

Why is being right so important to us? How many times have we distanced ourselves from God and from other people because we couldn’t admit to being wrong or flawed?

Too often we plan our lives and make decisions but then blame God when things don’t go our way. We feel angry and let down when people around us fail to meet our expectations. We may distort truth, overlook facts that don’t support our position, or point an accusing finger because we can’t stand being exposed as less than perfect in our perceptions, our reasoning, or our judgments.

Jesus tells the story of two men who went up to the temple to pray, a proud Pharisee and a humble tax collector. He warns his disciples not to be like the Pharisee, who prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

The self-righteous person believes in self-rightness, that is, in exalting oneself to God’s level by thinking and behaving flawlessly. In such a mind frame, we believe that God owes us a place in heaven because we have been so good and careful. We gauge our worth by comparing ourselves to others and reckoning all the ways in which we are superior.

Jesus tells us, however, that in God’s kingdom it is the humble tax collector whom God counts as worthy. Standing apart from the self-righteous Pharisee, he can only beat his breast and pray, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

The next time you are tempted to prove yourself right in a relationship, take a moment to examine your motives. Ask yourself, Am I trying to prove my worth by demonstrating my superiority to this person? Is my being right more important to me than preserving my relationship? How would it feel for me to be exposed as wrong or flawed and in need of this person’s forgiveness?

Pray

FATHER, it is painful for me to admit my imperfections. I confess to the many times I have refused to reconcile with others because they refused to see things my way. I am ashamed to acknowledge how much I resemble a self-righteous Pharisee. Change my heart, Lord, to be like the humble tax collector who recognized his need for your cover of righteousness and mercy.

Reflect

Luke 18:9-14; Romans 3:10-12

Share

When was the last time your need to be right damaged a relationship? How can you make amends?