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(Proverbs 11:2)
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2[/perfectpullquote]When I was a sophomore in college I roomed with two guys, Jim and Carl. We got along well together and had very few disagreements. Until one day they came to me and said that a dorm room down the hall was available and suggested that we move into it. Now, I was perfectly fine living where I was and didn’t want to make the move.
Well, the suggestion became more heated and Jim insisted that I move with them. When I refused, Jim got angry with me and pinned me against the wall saying, “You are spoiled and all your life you got your own way!” That really hurt and I told him that the opposite was true and that all my life I struggled with not having much because my parents were poor and my father was an alcoholic. In the end Jim and Carl moved to the other room and I stayed where I was. But things changed. I was mad and hurt and for the remainder of the school year, and for the rest of the yearI refused to talk to them. The next school year, after I got over my anger I was able to forgive Jim, but Carl had left college and moved back to Canada to continue his education. From that time on I felt that I missed the opportunity to ask his forgiveness especially since he wasn’t part of the argument I had with Jim. This desire for forgiveness haunted me.
After my disagreement with Jim I felt justified by my actions. Besides, it was a matter of principle! I was wrongly accused and I wasn’t going to back down. I saw myself in that position that the first part of Proverbs 11:2 speaks to, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace.” For 50 years I felt the penalty of my action not to forgive and ask forgiveness. Many times I thought of how wrong I was but didn’t know where Carl was or how to get in touch with him.
Betty and I had the opportunity to return to Letourneau University for my 50th Class Reunion. As we went to register I met Carl and his wife Barbara, his college sweetheart. We greeted each other and I asked if they wanted to have lunch at the local Whataburger. I humbled myself and asked him to forgive me for my bitterness and attitude toward him. He said that he didn’t remember my shunning him but was more than willing to forgive me.
As I think about that day when Carl and I reconciled I will never forget the joy and relief that came when I humbled myself. In that moment the reality of Solomon’s wisdom recorded in the second part of Proverbs 11:2, led me to peace, and I understood the wisdom God gave me to recognize the need for forgiveness and repentance that led to reconciliation with my friend.
– George Apgar
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