Pastor Elwin Ahu
May 4, 2008 - W0818

Do we like being corrected?

The Bible says, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid … Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, but he who regards reproof will be honored.”(Prov. 12:1, 13:18) The Bible talks a lot about reproofing.

Usually, we do not like being corrected, especially when we get caught with our hand in the cookie jar.  But times like those may be defining moments in our lives. The story of Saul and David is one of similarities between the two but more importantly it is a story of vast contrast between them. While they both were great warriors and became king, they were like fire and water. One responded poorly to being caught and corrected and so lost his kingdom and the other responded repentantly and so received God’s forgiveness.

Saul had to make a choice. God had ordered him to completely destroy all the Amalekites but he spared their king and livestock. When the prophet Samuel confronted Saul with this disobedience, Saul made excuses and said that his people were going to use the livestock as sacrifices to the Lord. But Samuel did not accept this.  It is written, “And Samuel said, ‘… Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice … Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.’” (1 Sam. 15:22-23) No matter what the excuse, there is no right way to do the wrong thing. “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord … because I feared the people and listened to their voice.’”(1 Sam. 15:24) As Saul demonstrates …

1.     IT’S EASIER TO EXPLAIN, THAN TO ADMIT FAULT.

There always seems to be someone else to blame or be the scapegoat. I see a little of Saul in all of us. If we get caught speeding we explain or excuse ourselves by saying, “BUT everyone else is doing it.”  If we buy a too extravagant dress, we say “BUT it was on sale” or “BUT the devil made us do it.” I think that our big “BUT” is our biggest obstacle to reaching the Kingdom of Heaven.

You can always find some excuse for doing the wrong thing. It depends on what you are looking for – to get out of trouble or rightness with God? Regardless, there is no right way to do wrong. While Saul did apologize, he attached conditions. Life was all about him. Status before men was more important to him than obedience before God. The Bible continues about Saul, “Then he said, ‘I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.’” (1 Sam. 15:30) Saul was still trying to save face in front of men. We should choose God’s desires and plans above our desires and plans. Remember …

·        WHEN YOU HONOR YOURSELF YOU DISHONOR  GOD.

You may succeed in saving face but will lose God’s blessings. Often your pride gets in the way. As it is written, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)  If we will not humble ourselves, then God will really humble us. I have noted in marriage counseling that when a spouse does not humble him or herself, the marriage will be lost. Because Saul would not humble himself, he lost his kingdom.

But David too was caught red handed. He had and affair with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba and she became pregnant so he eventually conspired to have Uriah killed in battle so that no one would know of his sin. However, the prophet Nathan confronted David, “Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah … taken his wife to be your wife …” (2 Sam. 12:9) David had actually broken three commandments; adultery, coveting, and murder so in a way he was even worse than Saul. But David is called a man after God’s own heart for a reason. His response to his defining moment when he was caught doing wrong was the right one. He completely and honestly repented without excuses. If you disobey God …

2.     WHAT YOU FAIL TO CORRECT IN PRIVATE, WILL BE REVEALED IN PUBLIC.

David responded well to his defining moment when he needed to be corrected. We know when we do wrong. We can feel it. It is the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts. As the Bible says, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you … You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” (2 Sam. 12:11-12 NIV)  God will speak to your heart so listen when he does. He loves you too much to let you sin without a chance to repent. So remember …

3.     GENUINE REPENTANCE IS UNCONDITIONAL CONFESSION, REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES.

David made a full confession without excuses. As the Bible says, “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However … the child also that is born to you shall surely die.’” (2 Sam. 12:13-14) God forgave David’s sin. David was rightfully more concerned at that point how his heart stood before the Lord rather than his reputation with men.

We have a tendency to insincerely say the right sounding words just so we can move on. I remember once having an argument with my wife Joy. I told her that I was sorry and so let’s move on. But when she continued to argue I asked her what was wrong with her.  She replied that “I” was what was wrong with her! Same like my wife, God is looking for our hearts to change. So …

·        REPENTANCE SEES FAILURE NOT AS THE END, BUT AS A NEW BEGINNING.

As the Bible says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me … Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Ps. 51:10-12) We will all sin again but it is how we respond that determines our future with God.

Once when Jared was spanked he initially refused to say his bedtime prayer.  When he relented, he prayed thanks to God for his parents and for the blessing of his mother so that she would not spank him again! When I heard that I just wanted to hug him so much! God is the same way with us.  He loves us so much.

It is easier to explain and make excuses rather than to admit fault. When you honor yourself, you dishonor God. Pride is an obstacle on the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. What you fail to correct in private will be revealed in public by God. Genuine repentance is unconditional confession, regardless of the consequences. Remember, we will continue to sin and make mistakes, but repentance sees failure not as the end, but as a new beginning with God.

DISCUSSION SUGGESTIONS

1.      What happened when you made excuses for doing something wrong?

2.      How did you react when someone made excuses for wronging you?

3.      What does “honoring yourself dishonors God” mean to you?

4.      When does pride become too much pride?

5.      When did you have too much pride?

6.      What happened when your secret sin was revealed?