My day's have consisted of getting up around 7:45 each morning, getting ready for work, heading to SoAcres until noon or 1 pm, then heading to one of two jobsites for House Right Production to work until 8 or 9 pm ... 11 pm one night.
On the nights I got off "early," I would head home and do some school work. There was little time for anything other than work and class work. I was not even able to spend much time with my lovely bride or my youngest son who still lives at home ...
But I did manage to squeeze in some time with Twitter here and there, and one of the posts I read is the basis for today's blog.
A modern hero of mine, Bob Goff, recently Tweeted the following: "Telling people they're wrong doesn't make us more right. Aim for righteous and end up as close as you can get."
That is a word this world needs. Far too many people, on both sides of any topic you can name, are striving to prove themselves right and their opponents wrong. While I do not subscribe to the Post Modernistic worldview belief that we all hold our own truth, and my truth can coexist with your truth, even if they are opposing views; I do feel there is great value in listening to people.
I Peter 3:8-9, 15 tells us:
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do no repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing...But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (New International Version).
I believe this is what Bob was saying when he called us to aim for righteousness. Don't repay insult with insult, don't go "toe to toe" with people trying to prove your point. Yes, have an answer (Jesus is the answer!), but answer with gentleness and respect.
People are rarely persuaded by debate.
Zacchaeus did not change his lying, cheating, steeling ways because he heard Jesus teach. Zacchaeus repaid those he had robbed and gave half of his possessions to the poor because Jesus came to his house for a meal.
How do we aim for righteousness? We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We ask ourselves how can I show God's glory in this situation? We show an infectious love (one of the reasons Bob Goff is my hero is his infectious love for everyone he meets). We don't strive to inflate ourselves, but rather we build up those around us. We decrease so Christ can increase.
This is not easy. I fail miserably every day. Yet because of the grace of God each time I fail I can simply start over again with a clean slate.
I'd love to hear stories of how you have successfully aimed for righteousness, and hit the mark. Or, if you prefer, also feel free to chime in with some time when you failed miserably, but in that moment learned a great lesson that would benefit all of us.
Today, live in such a way that you aim for righteousness, and see how close you can get.
