Rationalization
You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ––Revelation 3:17-18
Any time you’re coming up with good reasons to do evil things (especially religious-sounding ones), look over your shoulder. Rationalization is Satan’s most productive way of encouraging self–deception. This evil-inspired logic provides safe cover for Satan to hide himself in your thinking. With his encouragement, a little lawyer in your head will come out to strongly defend an attitude or action that is inconsistent with your faith, the Bible, and Christ’s example.
The deceptive voice offers intellectual, rational, logical, and persuasive justifications for immoral behavior. And worse, the little lawyer sounds like you. In fact, he is you, but he’s being encouraged by Satan with plenty of logical ammunition. We don’t have to wonder why men can be so smart and so dumb at the same time. We can all justify our wrong behavior and grow stupid enough to believe our own logic. Satan figures if we are dumb enough to hang ourselves by the noose of self-deception, the least he can do is provide the rope of rationalization.
A good example presented in the Bible is Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). God’s people were doing some pretty radical things at the time, like selling goods and homes and giving the money to the church. “A&S” take this action to a lower level. They are pimped by Satan to sell some property (which is fine), but then keep some of the profit and let on like they are giving it all to the Lord (not fine). Seemed logical and reasonable; after all, it was “all their money.” How cunning. But then God struck them dead. (No joke.) And the grievous act wasn’t the withholding of the money, it was the deception.
Father, You have taught me: To my own self, be true. Even more, Lord, may I be true to You.