Swallow That Pride

Swallow That Pride

Okay, so if you’re anything like me; sometimes it can be very difficult to admit that you’re wrong after you’ve already dug a hole so deep.  The easy thing to do: just keep on digging; that way at least you look like you know what you’re talking about. 

Now I don’t know about you, but when I was a little kid my parents always made me say sorry when I did something wrong.  As I look back, I realize that a lot of times I didn’t mean it when I said it.  However, it did teach me a very important life lesson.  I always felt so reluctant and stubborn during these moments, yet I had to learn to get past my own feelings and just say sorry.  Obviously as I got older, I learned the importance of genuinely apologizing, however I think a lot of us are stuck on step one!  It seems that it only gets harder, with age, to apologize.  I mean, admitting that I might have made a mistake?! No…obviously I’m perfect and everyone else is wrong.  Anyway, you get my point.

The truth: Apologizing is essential to developing character and humility.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  James 5:16

I think what happens as we get older: we always want to look like we know what we’re talking about, thus making it difficult to admit when we’ve made a mistake.  However, as you can see in the verse above: God wants us to confess our sins.  Pride has no room in the situation. Proceeding to the second half of the verse, the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Righteous; meaning honorable, virtuous, blameless.  You see, when we set aside our pride, we become closer to God.  The prayer of a man who is honorable, blameless, virtuous; the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Although this goes without saying, in addition to growing closer to God, we also become more Christ-like.  When I think of righteous, honorable, and blameless, there’s one name that comes to mind. (I think you know who I’m talking aboutJ).

In addition, apologizing saves us from guilt and resentful anger.

The truth: Sulking and refusing to apologize has no reward.

If you have any evidence that contradicts this, let me know because I’m yet to benefit! There’s nothing good about feeling angry, and why not just take responsibility and say sorry? Really, it’s not as hard as we make it out to be.  When we apologize, we no longer have to cling to that guilt and anger associated with the argument.  Rather than whine and pout like a child, we must swallow our pride and just apologize. By doing so we are able to move forward and grow.

If my word wasn’t good enough for ya…

Do not let the sun set while you are still angry Ephesians 4:26

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:12

So I guess what I am saying here- there is no purpose in clinging to our original “errors”, if you will. Pride hinders us from moving forward, whereas a simple (genuine) apology can develop growth in us spiritually, and in character.  Which do you prefer?

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

-Tamara