Subscription Lists

Do we ever justify ourselves? Before you answer this question, I would beg you to complete the reading of this article.

Yesterday we read where Luke wrote about a lawyer who came to Jesus with some very legitimate sounding questions. However, there was more to the purpose of the lawyer than met the eye. First, his very purpose in coming to Jesus was in order to test him (Luke 10.25). Secondly, when he was questioned by Jesus, he responded with the primary motive of justifying himself (Luke 10.29). These few facts certainly do not raise an honest person's opinion of the lawyer; in fact, it could be observed that this particular lawyer's habeus corpus was showing just a bit! The fact that he wished to justify himself speaks volumes about him.

However, before we come down too hard on the hapless lawyer, we might do well to think about others who were subject to the same human weakness, i.e. wanting to justify oneself. Whether or not the charge was true, each will have to decide, but consider the following: “Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.” (Job 32.2). “And He [Jesus] said to them [the Pharisees], "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” And again from the gospels, “Also He [Jesus] spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous.” (Luke 18.9). Finally we quote a set or relevant facts from the pen of the apostle Paul: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10.1-3).

Surely these verses show that the tendency to justify oneself is quite an ordinary thing. In fact, I am absolutely convinced that the tendency to justify oneself is far more prevalent that the willingness of humankind to seek justification only from God. A passage or two from the proverbs will help to enlighten us on this matter. First, the wise man wrote, “There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.” (Proverbs 30.12).

Now we turn to the be all and end all verse on this matter. Again we quote from Proverbs: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.” (Proverbs 21.2). This proverb does not teach that every man is able to justify each and every deed that he does, else the conscience would never be afflicted. Rather, it teaches that for any evil that man does, there are some who can justify it! The blue collar thief justifies stealing because the company will never miss it. The tax cheat justifies his deception because Uncle Sam wastes too much money anyway. The serial killer justifies his actions because of the horrible wrongs that society has inflicted upon him. The drug dealer justifies his deeds for any number of reasons but the most common one is to serve his own selfish appetites. Of late we have come face to face with the suicide bomber who justifies the taking of innocent lives to further this political or religious cause. Indeed, Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. We humans are capable of justifying every conceivable evil under the face of the sun.

Now back to the question: Do we ever justify ourselves? Honesty forces me to answer, “Yes!” It is a rare breed indeed who has not and does not practice such self deception! Mercy is needed in abundance!

Questions:

1. What is there about the human creature that demands that we justify our own actions? What class of humans, if any, exist who do not feel it is necessary to justify their actions?

2. According to the Proverbs writer, how many ways of man are right in his own eyes?

3. When we do things that are not right in our own eyes, what inner voice speaks to us?

4. Are there ways that seem right to men, but are actually opposed to the truth (see Proverbs 16.25)? Does one's conscience convict him/her of things which he/she believes to be right?

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Watching Your Dollars Fly Away