Do What Is Right!
The Rev. Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Decision-making is a critical and regular part of life. We are faced with options every day, sometimes several times a day. Sometimes we find ourselves in paralysis. That is, we can’t seem to decide between options. We’re always looking for the best decision that will produce the best result.
Therefore, we strive to know what the right path is. Further, to know what is right, one must know the source of all that is right. The source of what is good, right, and true is God. He has revealed what is good, right, and true in His word. The secularist would advise you to simply follow your heart. That is often disaster. We may feel like it is the right choice, but be stepping into an abyss of spiritual, emotional, and possibly even physical hurt. Those who live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ should hold up their choices to the light of Scripture to determine right or wrong. God said that blessing is the result of obeying Him and curse is the end of disobedience (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).
You won’t find a verse of Scripture that will tell you which car to buy or where you ought to work, etc. But the Bible does give principles by which decisions can be made. The Spirit of God, working in concert with the word of God, informs the conscience of one who has been born again, that is, a genuine Christian. The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians to hold every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
In addition, Romans 12:2 calls Christians not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewal of the mind, “that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Ephesians 5:11 points out that Christians were once in darkness but are now “light in the Lord.” Therefore, believers are to live as children of light, that is, to follow Jesus, which includes doing the right thing. Disciples of Jesus Christ are told that the “fruit” of living as children of light is “found in all that is good and right and true.”
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10a). To live wisely, to do what is right, man must know his Creator. God has revealed what He wants us to know of Him through His word written. Every believer is called to apply God’s word and obey Him for His glory. Thereby, believers can seek to do the right thing.
Doing what is right, wise living, is the way of blessing. By ignorance or avoidance of God’s word, we will do the wrong thing and head towards destruction. Don’t be fooled by following someone who commits to do what he thinks is right. First, know yourself what is right. Then do it.
The method for knowing the right thing is not easy. The method is the systematic, intense study of the Bible and the theology which proceeds from it. This is not only a personal endeavor. God has ordained that we grow in discernment and wisdom corporately. I am speaking of the necessity of growing in a church that teaches “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1) so that you are equipped to know the right thing and then encouraged to do it.
All that I have said above applies to Christians. Only those who have been born again are able to see the truth and thereby know the One who has revealed it. Are we then to think that only genuine Christians can do the right thing? What of the rest of mankind?
The Bible applies to both believers and non-believers. For example, God gave the Law (see Exodus 20). The Law has three uses. The first is to put bounds around sin. The second is to point to man’s need for Christ, and the third is to be the guide for living the Christian Life, the means of sanctification (Galatians 3:19ff). The Law reveals to all men what is good, right, and true. Man’s laws stand under God’s law to protect the innocent and punish the wrongdoer. So for a believer and a non-believer the first step in doing the right thing is to obey the law. We call this respecting the rule of law.
In my view there are two basic questions to ask when discerning the right action. First “Is it lawful?” and second, “Does this agree with God’s Law?”
In conclusion, God “has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)?
This simple and plain truth of God is perhaps more needed today than at any other time in our history. Pray that God will give you the wisdom to do what is right and the courage to do it!
