Wrongly or Rightly Accused?

Do you ever wonder why it is easier to see faults in others than it is to see them in ourselves? Is it simply because dealing with things on the outside is so much easier than dealing with things on the inside? Or is it linked to the stubborn pride that continues to linger no matter how many times we’ve been knocked down? On Sunday a pastor friend of mine spoke of his defensiveness when his wife tried to tell him how to drive better. His assessment of that was that if we don’t see a need for help, when someone tries to help us, we are offended. How then, do we evaluate whether we do have a specific area in our lives that needs work and growth? If my friend was a perfect driver and someone tried to help him, perhaps he would have just taken it in stride or even found humor in it. Could it be that a defensive response should clue us in to a need for some evaluation?

We can’t say that a defensive response always means that help is needed in the particular area that is being responded to. There is so much more happening on the inside, when we feel like we need to defend ourselves, than just a reaction to someone trying to help us. There may be insecurities with the particular relationship that is involved, there may be things in our life that are blinding us to seeing clearly or many other possible issues. Whenever we respond defensively we need to take the time to evaluate who we are and what lies we are believing about ourselves or about others.

It is eye opening to see that Jesus didn’t defend Himself and many times when He was accused He responded with silence. His love for people and His self-sacrificing actions were enough to defend Him. I am finding that that is the best response for me as well, love the people who accuse me and continue seeking to “die to self” daily. When I am soft and moldable, the accusations that are true hit the right place at the right time and bring about the growth and change that is needed.