Thursday, July 1: I told you so!

There probably isn’t a phrase that cuts us to the quick as easily as the oft-uttered “I told you so!” It’s the upscale, adult-version of “Neener, neener,” and certainly rankles men and women in their marriages, friendships and business relationships. It calls attention to two sides of the same problem. When we feel the need to highlight our own intellectual superiority each time a friend, partner or colleague crashes and burns, it points to our pride. On the other hand, the simple fact that it bothers us when someone mentions the errors in our decision-making capabilities points to pride from a different direction. The Biblical key is admonition alongside encouragement.


Let’s look at how Paul handled a similar situation when on board a ship as a prisoner:


21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.”
Acts 27:21-26


Talk about getting someone’s attention! After Paul addressed their misguided plan, he promised them all that everyone would survive. He must have spoken with authority for they all believed him, choosing to eat the existing food on board ship before lightening the load in preparation for the impending shipwreck.


42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
Acts 27:42-44

God carries us through the hardships of life. Some are able to swim, while others cannot get to shore safely without a board or part of the ship to keep them afloat. Sometimes the remnants of our destructive lives carry us to a safer place, with God’s helpful hand guiding all the way. We are continuously barraged by growth challenges, and not surprisingly, they all come back to pride. We should listen to the people God has placed into our lives and weigh the advice they give with God’s wisdom. Additionally, we should remember that the failures of others don’t make us any more special. Most importantly, we should trust God and His promises. He can carry us through situations that even make our survival look impossible. Nothing is impossible with God!


10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Titus 3:10-11