Only one day away from the official start of the NCAA Tournament means our final bracket selections need to be made. Filling out a bracket is always fun because we try to find where the upsets might be and predict which teams will reach the Final Four.
Throughout the tournament, we keep an eye on how our bracket is looking and how our guesses are turning out. Very simply, we fill out a bracket in order to be right. We want to pick the correct winners and show off our basketball brilliance by choosing the upsets.
It’s nice to look at our bracket and see our teams still alive in the tournament, but why do we really like to pick the winners? Is it so we can tell our friends and co-workers that we were right? Is it so we can make comments like, “I told you they were going to win” or “Didn't I tell you they were going to pull the upset?”
Of course, we love to get things right and prove we’re smarter than someone else. It sure beats being wrong! However, the “need to be right” often infiltrates other areas of our lives and can create major conflict within our relationships.
There's nothing more annoying than hearing someone obnoxiously remind you that you were wrong and they were right. But we also want to make sure we're not that offensive person who takes pleasure in sticking it in the face of others.
Proverbs 11:2 (ESV) reminds us that "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
There's no denying how good it feels to be right, but as followers of Jesus we must seek humility and leave behind the prideful “I told you so.”
People know when we’re right, so we don’t need to remind them by puffing ourselves up. In fact, we can actually encourage people by telling them when they are right (yes, even our spouses!) and let them be the hero.
Proverbs 22:4 (ESV) offers us great encouragement: "The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
Standing on truth and upholding our convictions is important, but let’s be challenged not to get caught up in arguments that only center around proving how right we are.
Today, let’s be aware of when our pride is about to take over and instead, humbly submit to God to help us back down.
Let’s remember we don’t have all the answers...we’re not going to pick every game correctly...and “Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15; GNT).
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for my pride and for being so concerned about being right all the time. I pray I'd have more humility and not be so worried about others knowing when I'm right. Thank you for allowing me to be in right standing with You because of Jesus. In His name, I pray Amen.
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