Self-justification is one of those qualities we often ignore and overlook because we hear it done so frequently. But honestly, it’s not a good quality. It’s a shortcoming of the trumped up human ego that seeks to hide its errors behind a façade of “I’m innocent!” when a guilty plea is more appropriate.

What a happier place this world would be if we all immediately admitted our errors and worked to rectify them.

Here’s a test to take if wondering whether one has an issue with self-justification.

What do you say when a policeman pulls you over for speeding and asks you why you were stopped?

Do you immediately admit your error? Do you tell him you weren’t paying attention, were in a hurry and shouldn’t have been, or whatever the reason was you were speeding, and that you’ll work hard to not speed again? Or do you make excuses for going too fast and try to make yourself look innocent?

I learned long ago that it’s a lot easier to instantly admit one’s errors then try to cover them up and pretend like nothing is wrong. “There is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed,” Jesus promised. We fool only ourselves when trying to hide mistakes.

Self-justification blinds perspective to needed reform.

Rectification and not self-justification serves everyone better in the long run. It may hurt at first to admit a fault, but it’s a lot better to get it out in the open and fix it then to continue repeating it with future penalties that could be far worse then presently facing.

God is a forgiving God and loves us no matter what we do. But self-justification is a sin that would stand in between us and our feeling the love of God.

Drop the self-justification and admit the truth! It’s a much happier and healthier path to tread.