Don’t Be Too Righteous

Ecclesiastes 7:16 contains a statement one would not expect to find in the Bible: “Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself?”

How can you be too righteous or wise?

I was reflecting on this passage in connection with the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. There he tells us, “[If you can be] lied about and yet don’t deal in lies or being hated, don’t give way to hating . . .” In other words, don’t let the wrongs other people do pull you into wrongdoing.

At the same time, Kipling adds, “and yet don’t look to good, or act to wise . . .” This is virtually a paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 7:16. He explains the concept by using the word “look,” which reminds us of Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 6 not to do our good deeds to be seen by men.

The verse in Ecclesiastes is a bit stronger. “Don’t be too righteous.” How are we to understand this? Matthew Henry in his commentary on the whole Bible provides a very full and helpful explanation.

“Be not righteous overmuch,” Ecclesiastes 7:16.

In the acts of righteousness govern thyself by the rules of prudence, and be not transported, no, not by a zeal for God, into any intemperate heats or passions, or any practices unbecoming thy character or dangerous to thy interests.

Note, There may be over-doing in well-doing. Self-denial and mortification of the flesh are good but if we prejudice our health by them, and unfit ourselves for the service of God, we are righteous overmuch. To reprove those that offend is good, but to cast that pearl before swine, who will turn again and rend us, is to be righteous overmuch.

“Make not thyself over-wise.”

Be not opinionative, and conceited of thy own abilities. Set not up for a dictator, nor pretend to give law to, and give judgment upon, all about thee. Set not up for a critic, to find fault with every thing that is said and done, nor busy thyself in other men’s matters, as if thou knewest every thing and couldst do any thing.

Why shouldst thou destroy thyself, as fools often do by meddling with strife that belongs not to them? Why shouldst thou provoke authority, and run thyself into the briers, by needless contradictions, and by going out of thy sphere to correct what is amiss? Be wise as serpents, beware of men.

I think this is a warning that I, as a conservative religious person, need. It’s happened to me over and over again in my life. I make some progress in life or in understanding, and it goes to my head. It becomes a tool of my own conceit.

For those who seek after an authentic moral and religious life in God, it’s good to remember: “Don’t be overly righteous or be overly wise.”

Don’t Judge and Drive

I have to admit. I wasn’t paying as much attention as I should have. I was on the phone (albeit hands free!).

I was at the corner of the intersection of Parkway and Main Street.

Let me tell you about this intersection. If you want to go south at that intersection, there is only one lane. If you want to turn left to go south, you cannot be out in the intersection at all, or you will make it very difficult for the cars that are turning left coming from the north (going east) to get around you.

This is the single lane heading south

I was in that turn lane coming from the east to turn south where you cannot be out in the intersection.

The white Ethra bus is where I was. Notice that it is several feet behind the line. I was about that far in front of the line.

Earlier, I had noticed that a cop had come by and gone south, but I hadn’t paid that much attention to what he was doing.

The left turn signal turned green, and I was ready to head south. So, I began pulling out into the intersection.

Then, uh-oh. There was a stationary semi that sitting in the only lane going south. I could not turn, but I was already out in the intersection a little ways.

Never mind. I’ll back up. Uh-oh. There’s a truck right on my tail. I’m stuck. I can’t go anywhere.

The light turned yellow then red. Still, I could not move. There was nothing I could do.

Finally, it came time for the cars coming from the north to attempt to turn left and go around me. It was not easy.

I got nasty look after nasty look. Several cars gave a long honk on their horn.

There’s one of two possibilities here. They may have seen the semi blocking my turn, and then they thought I was an idiot for trying to turn; or, they didn’t see it, and they just thought I was an idiot who just wanted to make their lives difficult.

I thought, come on people, it’s either an innocent mistake or an impossible situation.

At that moment, I thought of all the times I had honked my horn at other cars. I wondered, how many times have I honked the horn without realizing all that was going on? Probably quite a few.

A good lesson for me. Don’t judge and drive.