Giving Up Your Right to Be Heard
We live in a polarizing world, don’t we?
These days, your opinion can instantly distant you from family, friends, and co-workers without you even saying a word. What are we to do?
Whenever I’m not sure how to respond, I think looking at Jesus’ life is a good idea:
Give up your right to be right.
When we are focused on being right, we lose sight of the other person. Instead of having a conversation, we are merely insisting on our point of view and our way. Jesus was never that way. He met people where they were, if they did not agree with them, he would not argue his point, he left it alone. Can you even envision not arguing back when you think you are right in a discussion?
Where in your life right now are you more focused on being right than being in relationship?
Give up your right to be heard.
If all someone is hearing is our shouting over everyone else, is Jesus even in the picture? Throughout the Gospels, Jesus turns the conventional wisdom of the day upside down and teaches believers to be radical in our interactions with others. Just look at Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5! Jesus frequently chose NOT to respond to the questions or provocations of others. During his trial before Pilate, Matthew records that, “while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn’t answer.” (Matthew 27:12-14)
You don’t have to take the bait every time, remember that saying nothing at all is an option.
Choose love.
Look at Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (The whole chapter is phenomenal!) And earlier in Romans, Paul teaches us that, “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
We are to make every effort to live at peace with everyone! EVERY effort moms!
These teachings are not easy. They make even make you squirm as you think about a particular relationship or a particular conversation you’ve been having. But remember that as a believer, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you.
In the book of Luke, we are promised that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to speak at the moment that we need them. John Piper makes a great case that this doesn’t just refer to defending the Gospel! And I absolutely believe that if the Spirit can give us words to say, the Spirit can also clamp a hand over our mouth when words aren’t needed!
Never forget to pause and pray in the midst of a hard conversation, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you the words or help you keep silent as He desires.