Rationalizing

Rationalize -to attempt to explain or justify one’s own, or another person’s, behavior or attitude with logical, plausible reasons, even if the reasons are not true or appropriate. -Google dictionary

 

Rationalizing – we’ve all done it.

We’ve explained things away – also called making excuses, for our bad or improper behavior.

We make up reasons and twist words and phrases to make it sound like what we are doing or thinking is okay, even though it isn’t.

It makes us feel better about ourselves and feel like maybe, just maybe, our choice is better when we already know it isn’t.

 

Someone else used this tactic – the enemy.

In the Garden of Eden, when the serpent tempted Eve with the fruit, she knew she wasn’t supposed to eat it.

The enemy, in the form of the serpent, didn’t say, “hey, eat this.”.

Instead, he was sly about it.

Yes, he did call into question whether God really said what Eve knew He said.

But, then he started talking and explaining why things wouldn’t turn out as bad as God had said they would.

He also explained why there were things to be gained by doing it; and why it was okay to do what she wanted instead of what God had said.

 

Unfortunately, Eve gave in to the temptation of the lies and believed him.

Instead of standing firm on God’s word, she accepted the twisted lies and half-truths the enemy had told her.

This caused the downfall of humanity.

A pretty big price to pay!

 

I wonder how many times we’ve done the same.

Told ourselves little white lies and half-truths to justify us doing things our way instead of the way we know God told us.

 

When we come to a situation where we have to make excuses in order to be okay with, or condone, our words or actions, maybe we just shouldn’t do it?

We should stop, choose the more excellent way, and choose truth.

Remember, a half-truth is a whole lie.

If it isn’t completely honest it is tainted with untruth.

Untruth is just a fancy word for lie.

 

God has made it very clear in His word that lying is wrong.

He even goes so far as to say he detests lying lips Proverbs 12:22

If God hates lies so badly, how can we justify us telling them to ourselves and others as a means of excusing our sin?

We can’t!

 

We are supposed to focus on what is true and pure and lovely.

We can’t do that and focus on half-truths and lies.

We have to choose between the two and choose the way God said to go, even if it is uncomfortable or costly.

The truth is, choosing the lies is much more costly than choosing truth will ever be!

 

The next time you are faced with a situation I hope you will choose not to rationalize or make excuses and instead choose truth. God’s truth.

It’s the only thing we should do!

 

What do you think?

Are there times when you rationalize doing things?

How can you change that?

Are there areas where the enemy is whispering ideas or thoughts into your mind about places to rationalize?

How can you fight that with truth?

 

 

Read the story of Eve and the serpent here Genesis 3:1-19

 

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)