Self-respect
and self-love are conjoined together to create a personal standard of conduct. Self-respect
is crucial to integrity because it promotes honesty and truthfulness. Alfred
Griswold, past president of Yale University, noted that "Self-respect
comes to us when we realize that knowing the good, we do it; and knowing the
truth, we speak it."
Self-respect develops as a person
disallows guilt and shame from gaining a foothold. How are these enemies of
self-respect held at bay? Immediately confess to God and others when there's
been a failure to live up to your conscience and God’s word. Make things right where
wrong exists. Reclaim whatever of your moral character you've given up.
A young
man admitted to forsaking the values he'd obtained as a Christian to live with a beautiful young woman. Now bitter regret and sorrow occupy his day, for what he
believed to be true was false. The good news is, self-respect can be reclaimed
through repentance and by acceptance of God's forgiveness. God’s business is restoration
and forgiveness.
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