So whoever knows the right thing to do and
fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17 ESV
How many times have you heard someone say,
"That's just not right!" There is a feeling that what has been said
or done is unjust, dangerous, discriminatory, or against their values.
Somehow they feel that what has been done should not
have been done or said. If I were to ask my mother why I should do right, the
answer would be very clear, "Because I said so."
A simple answer from a preacher would be,
"Because God said so." Simple answers don't always answer complex
questions.
Proper behavior is not created by law or controlled by
others. It is the result of proper thinking and discipline. No one can truly change another…even if they
control them. We are each responsible
for our actions. We should walk constantly aware that life is filled with
decisions regarding right and wrong. Right is not so hard to discover as it is
to desire and perform. Why should we do what is right?
The value of
doing right is often its motivation.
"Why do the right thing? What makes something right or
wrong?"…These are legitimate questions. People often find it difficult to
try to do right if they don't understand why. Some fear that moral standards
are disappearing but the truth is they are multiplying.
New standards for "modern man" threaten traditional, Biblical values.
Although what man does has changed, what man is has
not. Every individual must face the fact that there are things destructive they
must not do and things beneficial they must do. The problem of moral behavior
is not in knowing values, but in doing right.
The ability to know and decide for right is based in
wisdom - which is a gift of God. Wisdom sees life from an eternal perspective -
God's perspective.
Four Levels
of Living:
- Instinctive (animal) - Babies act at this level demanding attention to
their desires. This philosophy is expressed with the "If it feels
good, do it" statement. There
is no regard for anyone but self. The instinctive level shows the urges of
men expressed without restriction or responsibility. This individual has no concept of future
consequence and sees only the moment as important.
- Customary (others) - More than just living according to the customary
or accepted ways of a group this is truly living for others. Many young
people who pride themselves on their freedom are slaves to others.
"Everybody else is doing it" is a statement of philosophy.
Individuals following this philosophy have no personal values but find
values only in what others believe is right. The problem is everybody has
been wrong before.
- Conscience (self) - Conscience living is living with clear-cut personal convictions that are driven by an internal sense of what is right and wrong. A present day statement expresses this philosophy…"What you believe is not as important as that you live your belief." In other words the value is that you are true to yourself.
- Christian - Christian living is living according to God’s
standards and purpose. The Bible
and the Holy Spirit become important to decision making. a. Make
the decision to let God be God. You'll never make progress in this area as
long as you refuse to give up control.
Scripture to Claim:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
