Everyone has their own opinions. And many times, we’re pressured to simply conform to the opinions of others. But while there’s wisdom in considering multiple points of view, we must have the courage to hold on to our own convictions as well.
For instance, our wife might blame us for some aspect in our marriage or feel we should behave in ways more to her liking. It’s wise to consider the heart of what she’s suggesting, even if it’s not presented in the best way. But considering is not merely caving into her way of seeing things.
Of course, we all have our blind spots, and our wife might be rightly naming things we need to address. But we still have the responsibility to filter this through our convictions of who God has called us to be, as our ultimate allegiance is to God and not our wife.
And, as we reflect on the truth God has called us to, we might realize our wife is giving us helpful feedback that allows us to grow in love and maturity. As such, we can readily go along with her suggestion – not simply to appease her, but rather because it’s aligned with our deep values and beliefs.
However, on the flip side, we would reject her proposition when it would cause us to compromise our integrity. We must stand firm in our convictions even at the risk of making her upset. But, even here, our resistance has little to do with her, and more about our commitment to remain unwaveringly loyal to who God has called us to be. And it’s bad faith to do otherwise.
To be sure, this plays out with friends, family, social opinions, religious authorities, and the like. Wherever others are recommending their worldview to us, we must have the wisdom and discernment to stay grounded in our own convictions and not be merely tossed around by every wind of change that comes our way.
In the end, humbly consider the point of view of others, as they often have much wisdom and insight to share. But remain firm in your convictions before God, as you still must ultimately answer to him alone.
