"I Know It's Wrong…"

Sitting in one of my favorite restaurants (that would be Chick-Fil-A), waiting for a friend the other day I overheard a couple of guys sitting in a booth behind me talking.

I wasn’t trying to listen in, but they were both talking really loud and it was impossible not to hear them.  It was obvious these guys worked for the same company. I didn’t hear all of their conversation, but I did hear one guy say, “It isn’t really legal for you to do that, is it?”

The other man responded by saying, “I know it’s wrong but I do it anyway because it means more money in my pocket and I’ve got to look out for myself!”

Hearing that little bit of their conversation has caused me to think a lot about this.  This way of thinking and living is the mantra of many people in our world.

However, this cannot be the attitude of those who wish to live like Jesus.  James, the brother of our Lord said, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

We sometimes say we should do right simply because it’s right. But there’s more to it than that.  First, We should do right because we want to please our Father in Heaven.

Another reason we should do right is because we want to be like Jesus. Jesus spoke of His obedience to the Father by saying, “…I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:29)

A third reason we should do right is because it will make our world a much better place to live. Imagine if all of us chose to live by the philosophy of Jesus as opposed to the thoughts of the men I overheard in the restaurant.

If we lived like Jesus we would be more concerned for others (Philippians 2:5-8), which would make our world a much better place to live.

Another reason we should do right is because when we do others can be won to the Lord.  Peter talked about how a Christian woman can win her non-Christian husband simply by doing right, without saying a word (1 Peter 3:1-2).

This is just the beginning of a long list of reasons for choosing to do what is right.  Why not take a minute and share with us your favorite reason(s) for doing right?

Father in a world where many do what is wrong even though they know it is wrong, help us to choose to do what is right.  Help us, dear God to do our part in making our world a better place to live.  Help us to love those around us enough to do right.  In the Righteous Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.