Whatever is Right

Everyone likes to be right.

OK, I confess, I like to be right.
Being wrong is a very hard thing for me.
I think I was born competitive.

My husband is a book collector. A few years back he purchased the 1828 version of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language.
I love this dictionary.
Intertwined with the black and white definitions are God's word and truths.

Today I am examining thoughts that are right. As I look up the word in my 3 inch thick dictionary I can see this is one of those entries that cover more than one full column. Yikes.


I love Noah's second definition:
In morals and religion, just; equitable; accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God, which is constant to His will or law; this being the only standard of truth and justice.

Wow, I love that. The measure of right uses God's will and laws as the standard.

In black and white, right is fair, true, lawful, proper, straight, and fit.

The truth is that right is a relative term depending upon what filter you are looking through.

The goal here is to filter my thoughts through the word and will of God.
Why?
Because that where the promise of peace is hidden in plain sight.

Back to my "need" to be right. It's the self-centered thought that gets me in trouble, the pride behind the words spoken, the lack of humility that makes my "right" wrong.

This one can look harmless at first. Be careful. I am afraid we will be tested on this one very soon. If a thought seems right, yet is wrapped in arrogance, pride,self-interest or deceit then it is most definitely wrong!

Need an example?
Recently, my husband and I disagreed about a parenting issue.
I knew I was right and I made no mystery about that fact.
I "agreed" to do things his way, but I wasn't quiet about the fact that  I knew better.

In the end, he was proved right and I saw the light.
Unfortunately, because I had stood on my own pride to declare my thoughts of being right, I ended up undermining his authority in our home.
I am still trying to undo the damage.

If only I had filtered my thoughts through the word...

Not everyone struggles with pride the way I do, yet I know we all struggle with the thoughts in our head.

Today, let our hearts be so full of God's wisdom that we cannot hear our own foolishness!

How about you? Do you struggle with being "right"?




"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."