Think about the words you most regret saying. What prompted them? Chances are, they were rooted in a desire to be right. You might even be honest enough to say you wanted to win the argument. But have you ever considered that it’s possible to right someone else right out of your life?

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Rather than being right at one another, God wants us to be right with one another.

How do we know this? Jesus was killed on a cross for a crime he didn’t commit. Jesus, who could have been right—who could have demanded what he deserved—instead valued us above himself. He didn’t correct the false accusations. He didn’t insist on his rightness. Jesus didn’t come to be right. He came to reconcile us to God and to one another.

So, he says to us: Quit being right at one another and figure out how to get right with one another. Because if the two of you aren’t right, it doesn’t matter who’s right.

Proverbs 17:14 ESV
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

Here are two questions that will make it practical:

In what area of your life do you need to get to work on being right with someone? Perhaps this relates to words you tend to speak in anger, sarcasm, criticism, or bitterness. These words could be spoken anonymously, directed at a specific person, or pointed at yourself.

The second question is more painful, but it’s the driving force behind watching your words.

Who hopes you’ll get to work soon? Maybe it’s your spouse, son, daughter, co-worker, or neighbor. It might even be someone you interact with online or on social media.

Is there someone you need to work to be right with today? It’s time to get to work.