“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17, RSV)
Licensed Veterinary Technician Ryan Corrigan notes that “Horses that are broken to follow their leader out of respect are more enjoyable than those that follow out of fear” (www.wikihow.com). He devotes an entire web page to healthy and safe methods of breaking a horse. A broken horse is not only more amenable to human aid, that horse learns to trust more easily, and is able to be taught much more effectively. A wild horse can injure a rider, is not reliable, and is difficult to train. A wild horse should not be ridden. A horse should not be broken too early in its life as it can develop joint problems. An older horse requires special handling to break it effectively. There is a good time and a bad time to break a horse.
In the scripture for today, God talks about a “broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17). A broken spirit occurs when a person is not self-satisfied, egotistical, self-centered, or narcissistic. Like a horse, a human being cannot be trained well without a broken spirit. A horse that is broken can be a highly effective aid. A human that has a broken spirit and is meek and respectful to God is much more effectively used in the service of our Lord. Psalm 51:17 states that the “broken spirit” is found in a person who has a “broken and contrite heart”. But what exactly is a contrite heart?
The New Living Translation of the Bible considers the word “contrite” to mean “repentant”. If you do not realize your failings, you won’t realize the need to repent. If you think you are perfect, you won’t repent. If you think you are seldom or never wrong, you won’t see the need to repent. If you are arrogant and haughty, you won’t want to repent. God can do so much more with the person who has a repentant, contrite heart. In fact, being repentant, according to the verse for today, is considered by God to be an “acceptable sacrifice” to God. If you want to please God, be a person who is quick to repent when failing. Be a person who is willing to admit your mistakes and make things right. You will go a long way to being a blessing to God when harboring a contrite heart!
Glenn was extraordinarily successful in the business world. He began a computer parts and repair business in the early 1990’s. After twenty years in the business, he owned several stores. When he retired, Glenn was a multi-millionaire. He was well known for his scholarships, community non-profit fund drives, and being a president of the Chamber of Commerce. However, in his church, Glenn was not well received. One member described him as “pompous as a peacock”. Glenn liked to be the center of attention. He loved the accolades he received when his photo got into the newspaper showing him giving away scholarships to lucky high school seniors. He cherished his business awards, even buying an expensive oak case to house his trophies and plaques.
When in his late sixties, Glenn became seriously ill with cancer. Not long after, his wife died. At this period of his life, Glenn no longer received awards and accolades. Often, he was too weak to get out of bed. He was lonely. Because he had spent so much of his life winning business achievements, his children were not close. Instead of growing closer to God in his last days, Glenn became an angry and bitter recluse. His home health nurses quit one after another. On one occasion when his pastor visited, Glenn told the clergyman that he probably came only for a “handout” from Glenn’s considerable savings account. Another time, Glenn threatened the pastor that he was not going to give one dime of his estate to the church for a stained-glass window unless he received a large plaque of at least 24”x 36” underneath the window! Glenn spent his whole life as a member of his church. Throughout that time, until the end of his life, he failed to show any evidence of a contrite heart. When Glenn died, there were few people at his funeral. Those that did come were business associates. Glenn could have done wonderful things with a contrite spirit. Instead, Glenn spent most of his time fluffing his resume and his bank account. He is remembered today for his wealth, not his faith.
Chuck Swindoll wrote the following words to pastors and church leaders: “God will not despise a broken and contrite heart… The greatest gift you can give your congregation is a genuine model of your humanity. Admit your weakness, or your unresolved conflicts, and then let yourself be broken about it by God. It may be between you and your wife; it may be between you and your staff member, it may be an unforgiving spirit, even alcoholism, incest, pornography—maybe gluttony, or plagiarism, or a critical spirit. It could be the sin of pride, or those sins that Jesus hated most; those of hypocrisy. Release it to God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”” (Men of Action, 1996).
Are you too prideful to admit your weaknesses and repent when you falter? Is there a little too much selfishness in your thoughts? Are you too quick to tout your successes? Maybe the best gift you can give God today is your own contrite heart…
In the scripture for today, God talks about a “broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17). A broken spirit occurs when a person is not self-satisfied, egotistical, self-centered, or narcissistic. Like a horse, a human being cannot be trained well without a broken spirit. A horse that is broken can be a highly effective aid. A human that has a broken spirit and is meek and respectful to God is much more effectively used in the service of our Lord. Psalm 51:17 states that the “broken spirit” is found in a person who has a “broken and contrite heart”. But what exactly is a contrite heart?
The New Living Translation of the Bible considers the word “contrite” to mean “repentant”. If you do not realize your failings, you won’t realize the need to repent. If you think you are perfect, you won’t repent. If you think you are seldom or never wrong, you won’t see the need to repent. If you are arrogant and haughty, you won’t want to repent. God can do so much more with the person who has a repentant, contrite heart. In fact, being repentant, according to the verse for today, is considered by God to be an “acceptable sacrifice” to God. If you want to please God, be a person who is quick to repent when failing. Be a person who is willing to admit your mistakes and make things right. You will go a long way to being a blessing to God when harboring a contrite heart!
Glenn was extraordinarily successful in the business world. He began a computer parts and repair business in the early 1990’s. After twenty years in the business, he owned several stores. When he retired, Glenn was a multi-millionaire. He was well known for his scholarships, community non-profit fund drives, and being a president of the Chamber of Commerce. However, in his church, Glenn was not well received. One member described him as “pompous as a peacock”. Glenn liked to be the center of attention. He loved the accolades he received when his photo got into the newspaper showing him giving away scholarships to lucky high school seniors. He cherished his business awards, even buying an expensive oak case to house his trophies and plaques.
When in his late sixties, Glenn became seriously ill with cancer. Not long after, his wife died. At this period of his life, Glenn no longer received awards and accolades. Often, he was too weak to get out of bed. He was lonely. Because he had spent so much of his life winning business achievements, his children were not close. Instead of growing closer to God in his last days, Glenn became an angry and bitter recluse. His home health nurses quit one after another. On one occasion when his pastor visited, Glenn told the clergyman that he probably came only for a “handout” from Glenn’s considerable savings account. Another time, Glenn threatened the pastor that he was not going to give one dime of his estate to the church for a stained-glass window unless he received a large plaque of at least 24”x 36” underneath the window! Glenn spent his whole life as a member of his church. Throughout that time, until the end of his life, he failed to show any evidence of a contrite heart. When Glenn died, there were few people at his funeral. Those that did come were business associates. Glenn could have done wonderful things with a contrite spirit. Instead, Glenn spent most of his time fluffing his resume and his bank account. He is remembered today for his wealth, not his faith.
Chuck Swindoll wrote the following words to pastors and church leaders: “God will not despise a broken and contrite heart… The greatest gift you can give your congregation is a genuine model of your humanity. Admit your weakness, or your unresolved conflicts, and then let yourself be broken about it by God. It may be between you and your wife; it may be between you and your staff member, it may be an unforgiving spirit, even alcoholism, incest, pornography—maybe gluttony, or plagiarism, or a critical spirit. It could be the sin of pride, or those sins that Jesus hated most; those of hypocrisy. Release it to God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”” (Men of Action, 1996).
Are you too prideful to admit your weaknesses and repent when you falter? Is there a little too much selfishness in your thoughts? Are you too quick to tout your successes? Maybe the best gift you can give God today is your own contrite heart…