No Offense...You're Not As Right As You Think

How many of us think that we’re probably smarter than the average person? We think that we’re better drivers, less sinful, and all around we’re just right!

Jesus was surrounded by people that always thought they were right. They thought they were smarter than everyone. They thought they were better than everyone and they thought they were holier than everyone. In truth the culture surrounding Jesus was a lot like ours is today.

Luke 18:9–14 NKJV

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

So we have a pharisee that sees himself as right and a tax collector that sees himself as wrong.Its bigger than right and wrong, Jesus sees it as pride and humility too. Prideful people do not love well!

You’re Not As Right As You Think!

Unfortunately, as Christian there is an unspoken pressure for us to be right. We’re supposed to know what to post, how to vote, what we’re supposed to believe, etc.. It’s in this manner that we could probably sympathize with the Pharisee’s. It’s really no wonder we slip into spiritual pride.

When we’ve allowed spiritual pride to creep in, and we allow ourselves to think we’re always right, we become offended by those who are “wrong”. When we allow offense to simmer, contempt sets in, we begin to hate not just what they do, but we begin to hate who they are.

Haven’t we all been church experts from time to time…that church is too shallow, they’re service is too boring, our church doesn’t preach that feel good message, our church preaches the truth! Remember, the Pharisee’s were right, they made sure that everyone knew how right they were!

Even if you’re “more right” than most, what if you’re right but you’re not loving? What if you’re rude? What if you’ve made a point, but didn’t make a difference? People will not be drawn to our moral superiority, they’ll be drawn to love!

Jesus went to parties where sinners flocked to Him. Prostitutes poured perfume on His feet. He spent the day with tax collectors. He spent time with a Samaritan woman at the well.

Why did sinful people want to be around Jesus? Jesus didn’t make them feel wrong, Jesus made them feel loved!

John 13:1 NKJV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

He loved them till the end. At His last meal with His disciples He was washing their feet as a servant. He was betrayed by Judas and He leaves them with this commandment...

John 13:33–35 NKJV

Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

People will know that we love Jesus not by how right we are, or how we vote, but by our love for one another.

When I am Right...

Feel Morally Superior

Become Judgmental

Easily Angered and Offended

The exact opposite of Jesus. He was the most right and was the least judgmental person to ever live.

Imagine the woman caught in adultery? Jesus said if you have no sin, you have the right to judge her. One by one they dropped the stones and walked away. Jesus had the right to judge, and didn’t. How do you think she felt?

Overwhelming gratitude

Valued

Loved In Spite of Sin

Forgiven

When I Am Forgiven...

Feel Profound Gratitude

Become More Accepting

Overflowing With Love

We do not change people by judging them, we change them by loving them. With all that Jesus has had to forgive me of, who am I to be judging them? Love Them!

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NKJV

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

They know us by our love! It’s not about right and wrong. It’s pride vs humility and proud people do not love well.

If you’re right, but you’re not making a difference, you’re not as right as you think you are. Humble yourself and love each other well, because Jesus never called us to be right, He called us to love!