Because it’s the right thing to do, that’s why!
I’ll bet you’ve heard or said that a few dozen times in your life. I recall on most Sunday afternoons, my Mom telling me that I needed to go back to church for RA’s, or kids choir because it was the right thing to do. That statement usually followed a fit that I had just pitched about having to go back to church when all my friends were still playing outside. For an eight-year-old, “because it is the right thing to do” seems a little thin on logic, but had I continued the fit, mom had a way of curing my attitude.
There are still times that we should do something because it is the right thing to do, but let me offer a bit of advice on this subject. Choosing what to do, especially when the right thing costs you something isn’t easy.
As a pastor, I am asked this question, in some form every week: Pastor, what should I do? How many times have you wished that you knew the ‘right’ thing to do? Maybe you were faced with a challenging decision at work, or with your family. Every decision that we make has consequences. As a result, you just wish that someone would tell you what to do. But that’s not the way adulting works. You have to make the big boy and big girl decisions, every single day.
When it comes to making decisions, it’s easy to ignore what the Divine tells us. He has given us the answer sheet to life’s most challenging exams. Listen to Him:
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105
He says that the Bible is a lamp to guide our feet and a light to illuminate our darkened path. How awesome is that? When it isn’t obvious what the ‘right’ choice is, we can count on God’s word for direction. The character of the Divine offers us the right choices. The question isn’t really what to do, but rather, will I listen and follow His lighted path?
I get it. Some of you just read that and thought, come on Chuck…is that the best that you’ve got? Well, yes! If you want a deeply theological and insightful answer, you probably shouldn’t be reading my BLOG. Just kidding..kind of.
Several years ago, a dear friend gave me an ancient lamp, much like the one in the picture above. It and thousands more like it have been found in the excavation and archeological digs in and around the Holy Land. After receiving this cherished gift, I did a bit of research to discover it’s significance. WOW! Men and women that traveled across the rocky paths of the ancient Middle East would need some form of light as they walked at night. Having been to the Holy Land a few times, you don’t want to travel in flip-flops. You’d spend every night doctoring your toes! It is rocky terrain, especially in a thin strap of sandal leather protecting the bottoms of your feet.
This little lamp would have oil and a wick curled up in it. the end was pulled out the “spout, ” and lit. Ancient peoples used this lamp like we would use a flashlight in a power outage going up and down the stairs.
Here is what’s so awesome. The Psalmist is saying that God’s Word illuminates our paths so that we can follow Him on our journeys and choices! Every choice has a direction to take. Isn’t it just too stinking awesome that the Divine is lighting your path as He is guiding your steps? He is using His Word, His Way, and His Character to light the path with the right choices. This is one of the many reasons that I am so passionate about getting folks into the holy habit of reading and/or listening to the Bible. This is why we offer a weekday devotion five minutes a day – five days a week on the WEEKDAY PODCAST and the DAILY AHA on the SUGAR HILL CHURCH APP!
Whatever choices that you might face today, choose the path best illuminated by the Word and character of God. When you do, It will always “Be the Right Thing To Do!”
–AChuck
