Just because you are right...

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Just Because You're Right . . .
Leonard Sweet tells a story from Abraham Lincoln's days as a lawyer in private practice. The story goes that Lincoln was hired to sue a man over a debt that totalled $2.50. He didn't want to do it. But the client insisted "principle" was at stake more than money. The two men had been friends, but the delinquent debt had changed things. Now they would be adversaries over a paltry sum of money. Abraham Lincoln's resolution of his own problem of conscience in the matter was to charge his client a $10.00 fee for handling the case - to be paid in advance. Then the lawyer with big ears, a craggy face, and an insight into human nature gave half his fee to the defendant, who promptly paid the $2.50 he owed. As with so many Lincoln stories passed around in popular lore, I can't vouch for the factual authenticity of the narrative. However, what I can affirm for a certainty is that we could all be better served by valuing relationships over vindication. Have you ever seen business partners doom their company over an ego battle? The specific issue may be credit for an idea or the best office location. What to do with their first windfall profit. Or which of the partners will represent the company to receive an award. Or, it may be how to market their product at the next level. The truth is, everyone who is watching knows what is really at stake. Ego has staked out the turf, and petty issues quickly become "matters of principle." And everybody loses. The same thing happens in families. Although love is supposed to be in the giving business, two adult (?) partners to a marriage begin to focus on what they're not getting from the relationship. So a tug of war begins over the things each person wants and expects of the other. Soon the two people are indicting and blaming each other. And once again, divorce courts are crowded with people who didn't have to be there. Sadly, nowhere does this attitude play out with more irony and pain than in churches. Holy desire to be a serious Bible student becomes unholy arrogance about a right interpretation. Admirable pursuit of an upright character turns into self-righteous and ugly condemnation of others. Churches squander huge amounts of influence by "taking a stand" at the expense of putting the boot on someone's neck. The issue here isn't that truth doesn't matter and that we should play to the lowest common denominator. One can't close his or her eyes to criminal or immoral behaviours. But one is well-advised to hear Jesus on turning the other cheek before deciding that winning a dispute is worth more than saving a relationship. Friend, just because you're right doesn't always make you right. In fact, there are many things in life that need not be said, for they serve no positive purpose. If you would like me to send you a FREE book to help trigger your thinking about the power of your words, I'd be pleased to do so. Just write to me and request "What You Say Is Powerful" and you will receive your copy by return mail. My address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331. Phone/Fax: (08) 9841 8418 Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au I hope you will enjoy a great day!

Just Because You're Right . . .

Leonard Sweet tells a story from Abraham Lincoln's days as a lawyer in private practice. The story goes that Lincoln was hired to sue a man over a debt that totalled $2.50. He didn't want to do it. But the client insisted "principle" was at stake more than money. The two men had been friends, but the delinquent debt had changed things. Now they would be adversaries over a paltry sum of money.

Abraham Lincoln's resolution of his own problem of conscience in the matter was to charge his client a $10.00 fee for handling the case - to be paid in advance. Then the lawyer with big ears, a craggy face, and an insight into human nature gave half his fee to the defendant, who promptly paid the $2.50 he owed.

As with so many Lincoln stories passed around in popular lore, I can't vouch for the factual authenticity of the narrative. However, what I can affirm for a certainty is that we could all be better served by valuing relationships over vindication.

Have you ever seen business partners doom their company over an ego battle? The specific issue may be credit for an idea or the best office location. What to do with their first windfall profit. Or which of the partners will represent the company to receive an award. Or, it may be how to market their product at the next level. The truth is, everyone who is watching knows what is really at stake. Ego has staked out the turf, and petty issues quickly become "matters of principle." And everybody loses.

The same thing happens in families. Although love is supposed to be in the giving business, two adult (?) partners to a marriage begin to focus on what they're not getting from the relationship. So a tug of war begins over the things each person wants and expects of the other. Soon the two people are indicting and blaming each other. And once again, divorce courts are crowded with people who didn't have to be there.

Sadly, nowhere does this attitude play out with more irony and pain than in churches. Holy desire to be a serious Bible student becomes unholy arrogance about a right interpretation. Admirable pursuit of an upright character turns into self-righteous and ugly condemnation of others. Churches squander huge amounts of influence by "taking a stand" at the expense of putting the boot on someone's neck.

The issue here isn't that truth doesn't matter and that we should play to the lowest common denominator. One can't close his or her eyes to criminal or immoral behaviours. But one is well-advised to hear Jesus on turning the other cheek before deciding that winning a dispute is worth more than saving a relationship.

Friend, just because you're right doesn't always make you right. In fact, there are many things in life that need not be said, for they serve no positive purpose. If you would like me to send you a FREE book to help trigger your thinking about the power of your words, I'd be pleased to do so. Just write to me and request "What You Say Is Powerful" and you will receive your copy by return mail. My address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331. Phone/Fax: (08) 9841 8418 Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

I hope you will enjoy a great day!