Guilt vs Shame

(Proverbs 13:5 KJV)  A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

A liar acts “shamefully” (2659).  This could be a place to remind ourselves of the difference between guilt and shame.  This is exhibited in how people live their lives and how cultures set their expectations.

Guilt is an internal experience.  You feel guilty whether anyone else knows about it or not.  You know you are wrong.  This is often a very healthy thing, even if it gets bad press in our common culture.  It is how God brings us to repentance and change.

Shame is a response to an outward experience.  It only feels bad about getting caught.  It can be healthy but usually it is dominant in people who want to break all the rules and live below the radar. 

In the case of liars, their whole motif is to not get caught.  When they are caught their resolution is not to become honest but to become more careful.  This is not the way of the righteous.

So?  What is your motivation today as you live your life?  Are you concerned to sense the voice of the Holy Spirit giving you guidance and helping you grow or are you just worried about getting caught?  Keep in mind that God knows, even if the cop on the corner doesn’t.  Think about that next time you wonder if you will get away with something.