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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Self justification (showing oneself to be right) is a slippery slope; it truly is a place where extreme caution must be exercised. On the other hand, the only folks who do not engage in self justification are those who are mentally incompetent to decide such matters! There is one inherent issue that must be perpetually kept in view if we are to be successful in God's eyes in evaluating (justifying) our thoughts and actions. Specifically we must use the right standard to judge ourselves if we are to come away with the right answers.
Failure to use the right standard guarantees that our evaluation of self will be flawed. The use of an accurate ruler to determine correct distances is analogous to this principle. I worked with a man who kept a small tape measure in his pocket which he frequently used to verify random distances throughout the day. However, the tape was old and worn and he had snipped off the first two inches so that it would remain useful. As long as he used the right standard (subtracted two inches from his results) each time, his work was valid. However, just one slip in taking this into account guaranteed that his results would be inaccurate. So it is with the proper standard by which spiritual and moral determinations are to be made. One flawed interpretation of a passage can guarantee that our self justification will not be an accurate portrayal of how we stand before God.
With this in view, I call your attention to a few passages. “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” (1 Corinthians 3.18). “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6.3). “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1.22). “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (James 1.26). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1.8). Surely a cursory reading of these passages is adequate to show that the issue of self deceit is a real and extremely dangerous.
After observing a coworker's actions for a long period of time, I was convinced that he could use help with his excessive drinking. I encouraged him to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He agreed to go when I agreed to go with him. In the early part of the meeting various people (including those who were there for the first time), were allowed to speak. My friend, after hearing others speak of the problems which they had with alcohol, felt compelled to speak. I can come very close to quoting his words; he stood and said, “Well I drink quite a bit and often drink alone, but I can quit anytime I want to!” With that hackneyed line, the entire group erupted into laughter! Every alcoholic there had told himself the same lie before facing the truth about himself and seeking help. Like so many other moral, spiritual, and social ills, self deception is THE barrier that prevents progress. Once we are honest with ourselves and admit that we might have a problem, then and only then, can we be helped or, for that matter, help ourselves.
Self justification (evaluation) is a perfect healthy and normal process of rational beings. However, there is an ever present danger of self deception that threatens EVERY step of this process. One wrong premise and we are guaranteed to reach a wrong conclusion. To state this another way, if we fail to correctly understand one essential principle of God's word, we are guaranteed to conclude that we are right when, in fact, we are wrong! Once again we conclude by saying, “Mercy is needed in abundance!”
Questions:
1. Why is self justification (evaluation) a slippery slope?
2. What biblical evidence is there that self deception is a potential problem, even for believers?
3. Why did we conclude that self deception is THE barrier to correcting many of man's ills?
4. Do you know any one who correctly understands every essential principle of God's word? Do you know any one who claims to correctly understand every essential biblical principle?
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