MY WAY IS BEST

Pondering the Principles of Proverbs

Of course, we do.
In fact, many of us have probably said at one time or another, "I have a great idea." Nothing wrong with being your own cheerleader, I guess; but I do get a kick out of hearing that particular statement.


Why is this? Why do we automatically assume that our thought processes, or our opinion, or ideas are best?

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It is simply because that is the way we are built, that's all.
The problem is, however, that our ideas, opinions, thought processes, etc. do not happen inside a vacuum. (I realize that is a set-up for a joke, but that was unintentional.) All these things must make their way through the filters we have in place. And, they must make it through each and every one of those filters before they see the light of day.
What are these filters?
Your ideology, beliefs, philosophy of life, worldview, people paradigms and so forth all perform this filtering process before you are allowed to express your thoughts.
It happens so quickly, though, that most of us actually believe our thoughts are independent of such influence. Some of us actually feel that we are open-minded and above such mundane events.
Really?
When was the last time someone offered you a differing view and you accepted it without so much as a blink?
Maybe I can explain it this way--

We each have a need for security, which is a legitimate human need. We need physical, emotional, financial, and intellectual security. It is this intellectual security that I am speaking of.
None of us will knowingly believe a lie. Each of us believes that what we 'know' is the truth. Some of us know that our beliefs have changed over the course of years, but that does not alter our security in our current set of beliefs.
Since most humans occupy a black and white, right or wrong world, it is easy to see this type of filter at work.
It goes like this:
What I believe is true.
You believe something different.
Therefore, you are wrong.

Having a black and white paradigm makes life so much easier to handle.
Until it gets shaken by the truth, of course.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. 
                                                                                                                                                                                          (Pro. 16:2 ESV)
Often, we are not aware of our own motivations for doing or saying something. But, those motivations, right or wrong, are there nonetheless.
The Lord knows and understands the heart of man. 
Man doesn't.
So, we each sit in our own self-constructed ivory tower, perched securely in the knowledge that our ways are the right ways, and smugly judge the ways of others as less-than-acceptable.


Here is the challenge:
Ask yourself WHY?
Why do you believe what you believe?
Why do you act the way you do?
Begin to discover and judge your own motivations, and maybe--just maybe--you won't be so quick to judge the life of another.


All comments, questions, and/or criticisms are welcome. They will be posted immediately without the necessity of approval.

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