By Audrey Bauman

Proverbs 14: 9  (NLT)

“Fools make fun of guilt,
     but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.”

Once again, Solomon gives blunt advice.  If you are feeling guilty about something, you need to admit your mistake and make it right.  There’s really nothing I can say to add to that.  Solomon’s right – saying “I’m sorry” and then being sincere about doing what is necessary to make the relationship right again is what godly people will do.

In our culture we tend to tell people to ‘get over it’.  We also idolize strong people – people who can take whatever and press on.  The bottom line is what counts, not the people who are hurt in the process.  Look at most politicians and business leaders – how many of them ever say they are sorry, that they made a bad decision?   They do if a court might convict them, but really it’s a threat to their prosperity and success that makes them admit errors, not guilt. But people who love God will acknowledge or admit they are wrong, and they will seek (try hard) to make things better. 

Just a word of caution.  There is always a middle ground or balance in these matters.  I have met some people who have such low self-esteem that they are frequently apologizing and feeling guilty way more than they should.  It’s important that we see ourselves through God’s eyes – a unique and special person who He loves very much. I don’t think Solomon’s advice is to keep us grovelling all the time.  He wants us to keep that wise perspective – don’t go around hiding mistakes, but apologize when you realize you need to, when God’s Spirit is nudging you to admit you goofed. 

Our song for today is Forgiven by Sanctus Real.