A few weeks ago, an incident occurred and I thought it to be a perfect example. A perfect example of a wrong justification. The reason God establishes standards is for your good and mine. It’s the same way Organisations create a list of standards, so you understand what to do and not do.
Let’s use the names ‘Ava’ and ‘Chloe’. It all started when Ava sent in an application to bypass the standards, to Chloe. Technically, there is a process to follow the standards and another to leave out the request from the process. As an enforcement agent, Chloe’s job is to ensure people comply. In addition, she clarifies information on the standards.
On getting the application, Chloe looked it through and decided it did not meet the criteria to bypass the standards. Imagine Chloe’s shock when Ava brought up similar requests that had been approved. Ava began to justify that the other applications are similar to hers, so she should get the approval.
Almost immediately, my mind began to play out how similar in behaviour, you and I, are to Ava. What do I mean? When you pray, you pour your heart out to God and He hears you. The challenge for most of us comes when God says No.
When God says No, sometimes, you may want to present a justification on why you should get it. This is where a wrong justification comes in. What exactly does justification mean? It means a good reason or explanation for something (source).
In Ava’s defense, her request was similar to the other requests. What wasn’t taken into consideration, is the request wasn’t the same as the others. Likewise, you are not the same as the other people. God knows you and He understands what you need at the various points in life.
Let’s consider Saul, who God gave specific instructions to in 1 Samuel 15:1-3. Saul had only one job, destroy everything in Amalek. You know what he did? He destroyed everything but the best of the spoil and its king.
When asked why, vs.15 says that And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” This is the wrong justification Saul gave.
It’s common for us to justify what’s wrong when God says it’s not right. Seeing others do it, doesn’t mean that it’s right. In the same manner, justifying why God should give you what He’s said No to, is a wrong justification. May God help you and I do away with every form of wrong justification.
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