Written by Steve Stutzman
I was in some private discussions lately that left me wondering a lot...
Whatever happened to just doing the right thing?
It's almost as if we have become afraid of it somehow - afraid we will be, or be labeled, as self- righteous, or Pharisaical, or some other terrible malady will seize upon us, if we simply do the right thing.
Conflict comes up between brothers in a church, over money issues in business. Tempers flare, words are spoken, lies get involved...
Whatever happened to just DOING THE RIGHT THING?
Give in. Let it go. Let the guy have the $$. It's only money, after all. (1 Cor. 6:7)
Husbands come crying because their wife is mistreating them. Wives come crying because their feelings are being hurt, or they are not being heard.
I realize these are often very, very painful situations. I also realize they cannot all be treated in blanket statements, because of the complexity of the situations.
But it seems to me, one thing remains fairly constant- do the right thing.
As Emmerson Eggrich so powerfully points out in the book 'Love and Respect', each man will be asked one day, "Did you show self- crucifying love to your wife?" There is no exception clause there for what kind of woman she is.
The wife will be asked, "Did you do whatever you need to do to make this man feel respected?" ...again, no exception clause for jerks. (Eph 5:33)
The traffic gets jammed up, and people get all cranked up and pass on the left shoulder, etc.
Why? Just do the right thing.
I know it will make you late. So what?
It's making me late too. And you going around and butting in, is wrong. Do the right thing. (Matt 7:12)
Another homeless guy is sitting at the crossroad bumming quarters.... probably not being very honest with his sign. Do the right thing.
A girl is all upset because her parents want her to dress a certain way, and she doesn't want to. So do the right thing already. So maybe your parents are old-fashioned and religious, stuck in a by-gone era.
So what?