Ever used phrases like: “It just isn’t right…” “It’s not fair…” “He/she doesn’t deserve THAT…” “You don’t know what it’s like to be treated like this…” “I don’t deserve this!”? Consider 1 Corinthians 4:2-4…

It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

We ALL believe ourselves to be innocent. We ALL think the OTHER person is guilty. EVERYONE sees themselves as the martyr… the one who is RIGHT… the one that IS misunderstood… and being treated unfairly. There’s just one problem and Paul (The Apostle) points it out (If we’ll not be defensive and listen to the Spirit inspired Word we might learn something)…

Just because we think we’re innocent doesn’t mean we are innocent (4:4). Just because we are convinced we’re right, doesn’t mean others are wrong. Just because a person has another perspective doesn’t mean they are an enemy. Sometimes I think about myself and ask… “I see your point Ron, but have you considered that YOU HAVE contributed to this situation AND that in all this God has lessons for YOU to learn?” That’s a hard concept to embrace.

NO ONE is completely innocent… ever (Including me). NO ONE really is perfectly pure… holy… righteous… or RIGHT (Ever). In every situation and/or event, no matter how minute or miniscule, there ARE things we shouldn’t have done… should have done differently… and/or could have done better. The problem is our hearts are so infected with sin we justify and rationalize our behavior to become the martyr while casting others as evil… most every time. So what is my point?

In every event… situation… circumstance… or problem, we need to ask God: “Father… what lesson do you have for me about myself in this?” “Lord… show me my blind spot(s) so that I may be more like your Son.” “Father God… reveal to me what I need to repent of, ask forgiveness for, and change so that I don’t cause others to stumble because of this.” “God… please show me what I need to do that honors You regardless of what anyone else says or does…” (Phil 1:27; 1 Cor 10:31).

Any person who believes they are completely innocent… absolutely guilt free… or did everything perfectly in a situation is massively deceiving themselves (1 Cor 4:4). Paul the Apostle recognized this and wrote about it in Romans 7…

15 I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 18 I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 23 In my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.