Pointing Fingers
"Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time?" (NIV) Ecclesiastes 7:16-17
Self-righteousness and reckless living are two sides of the same dangerous coin. Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 warns, “Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wicked. Why destroy yourself?” Yet, throughout history, people have either prided themselves on moral superiority or drowned in open rebellion. Both extremes lead to ruin.
Consider the Pharisees who brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. Expecting Him to condemn her, they were instead confronted with their own guilt: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7). Silently, they walked away, exposed by their own hypocrisy. Jesus neither justified sin nor exalted legalism—He upheld truth and mercy.
How do we escape these extremes? Through God’s Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). It convicts the self-righteous, calls sinners to repentance, and teaches true holiness. “The word of God is living and active… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Rather than pointing fingers, we must examine ourselves. Jesus challenges us to remove the log from our own eye before judging others (Matthew 7:3-5). The path forward is neither self-exaltation nor self-indulgence, but humility before God. True righteousness is found not in ourselves, but in Christ.
A life shaped by Scripture finds balance—truth without pride, grace without compromise. Walk in holiness, but walk humbly. That is the life God honors.