He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
We all make mistakes. The humble admit their mistakes, and the proud don’t, yet humility is essential for prosperity.
A person may be rich, but not prosperous. Prosperity means living fully alive, being loved and respected, having good health, and—above all—a clean conscience.
Hiding our mistakes may seem like the easier option, but it can lead to quick complications and future troubles.
It’s human nature to be ashamed of our mistakes, weaknesses, shortcomings, and sins, so we want to hide them. This is nothing new; it’s hardwired into us. We’re designed to co-operate in society, and we rightly want to hold up our end. But when we fail, we’re tempted to hide and lie—the fault of our First Parents, who blamed others for their sins (Genesis 3:12-13).
Dawson Trotman, The Navigators founder, once said, “He who makes no mistakes does nothing. He who makes too many mistakes loses his job!” Errors and offences are inevitable, so our only real choice is whether we try to hide them, or learn from them.
Owning Our Errors
Until we take personal responsibility for our mistakes we’re powerless to correct them. As long as we blame others, we’re incapable of improving, and we’re surrendering our personal control. In effect, by blaming others, we render ourselves powerless. The cop-out leaves us nowhere.
If a person accepts personal responsibility, he can act to correct the problem. When we confess our mistake, the people hearing the confession should be those who were affected. If we sin against three people, we don’t need to confess to fifty. We should repair the relationships we’ve damaged. We shouldn’t hide our faults, but neither should we advertise them. Proclaiming our sins can become self-indulgent, burdening others with things they don’t need to know.
Compassion Brings Comfort
The compassion promised in this proverb can come directly from God directly or through other people, since God often uses others to achieve his purpose. That compassion may come in the form of restored friendships or unexpected gifts. Though we always need food, shelter, and clothing, the text reminds us that genuine prosperity requires genuine friendships.
In the Book of Joshua (7:19-25), Achan confesses his sin, but only under pressure, so he receives a severe judgment instead of compassion. The best confessions are immediate and voluntary, and are most likely to attract mercy and compassion.
Repentance Means Change
Confession alone will not bring us divine compassion. We must forsake our evil and harmful ways. Further, this compassion is rarely money. To admit our errors takes humility. To err is human, and to forgive is divine, but divine forgiveness—desperately needed by all—invites us to forsake our faults and thereby grow beyond them. “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” (James 4:6). With humility we become more fully alive.
Walking with God
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they hid from Him. When they heard Him walking in the garden, they feared walking with Him (Genesis 3:8). In contrast, one of their great grandsons, Enoch, again walked with God (Genesis 5:24). When Enoch sinned, he quickly confessed and disowned his sin. Noah also walked with God (Genesis 6:9). Walking with God means seeking Him, coming to Him as we are, and letting Him lead the way.
When it comes to our finances, each of us must choose to either independence or partnership. In the diagram below, true financial partnership is the choice to have a another pilot with us: God. Humility is required! The diagram shows a line with gradients, indicating degrees of surrender. Usually, full surrender doesn’t come immediately. We must always learn to remember that God is the pilot, and we are the co-pilot. We may not be in charge, but the scenery is spectacular (Matthew 11:28,29,30).
Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend
Admit our mistakes? Jesus did the exact opposite! Not only did He never admit to any sins, He challenged his enemies to find fault with Him. “Which one of you convicts me of sin?” (John 8:46). Amazing! Jesus claimed to be perfect.
Pilate said, “I find no guilt in him,” (John 18:38). Elsewhere we read that, “He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin,” (Hebrews 4:15). Being completely sinless made Jeus Christ the spotless lamb (Exodus 12:5). The death of a perfect lamb was foreshadowed by the Jewish Passover—blood of an innocent victim to atone for the sins of God’s people.
Since Jesus Christ had no sin or disobedience of His own, His death could atone for the sin of the world.
- Memorize the text in your favourite Bible translation and think about it often.
- Admit your mistakes when you make them—the sooner the better.
- Study Psalm 32, especially Psalm 32:3-5 to understand the benefits of admitting our mistakes.
- Accept responsibility for an error, and take appropriate steps not to repeat it.
Which of these steps, if any, does Jesus want you to take now? Ask Him.
Related Illustration