Speaking up for What’s Right
Proverbs 31:8,9 Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Help people who are in trouble. Stand up for what you know is right, and judge all people fairly. Protect the rights of the poor and those who need help.
Like it or not, but when you and I take on the label of Christianity, the brand of Jesus Himself when you think about it, then what we say and do speaks to this world of the Saviour in whom we profess to believe.
It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? Those who don’t yet know Jesus look at us, our attitudes, our words, our facial expressions, the way we treat others and they judge Jesus through us.
Live in godly wisdom and humility, and that speaks volumes about Jesus. Live in worldly self-interest and hypocrisy, and again that to them, speaks volumes about Jesus. Is that fair on Him? No, but very understandably, that’s the way things are.
Yesterday we chatted about the reality that Christian tribalism is alive and well; that all too often we’re seen to be speaking and acting out of our own self-interest rather than walking in the humility of Christ.
And yet Jesus often stood up for what was right against what was wrong. Although He did it, not in His own interests, but the interests of others. A bit like this:
Proverbs 31:8,9 Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Help people who are in trouble. Stand up for what you know is right, and judge all people fairly. Protect the rights of the poor and those who need help.
That seems to me to be a far more godly, more Christ-like thing for a Jesus-follower to do, than to speak up for ourselves. Speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. Help those who are in trouble. Protect the rights of the poor and needy. Stand for what’s right, rather than for the victory of our own tribe.
As Jesus well knew, that comes at a cost. Do it anyway. Stand up for them, not for yourself.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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