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Right and wrong can be a tricky subject to navigate. I don’t mean debating the 10 Commandments or clearly defined Biblical standards of living… I’m talking about the everyday life stuff that may not have a clear, cut and dry, this way only kind of solution. As Christians we should want to please the Lord and do what is good and right in His eyes. However, we can take that to a place where we simply want to do what is ‘right’ because WE WANT TO BE RIGHT and not because it honors the Lord. This is where the whole thing gets flipped on its head. Many people understand that living in sin and rebellion is not pleasing to the Lord. However, for those of us that really want to do right, our pitfall won’t be rebellious living, it could be wanting to be seen as doing the right thing all the time… which is really the same pit: it’s all about me. In both situations, the rebellious partier and the hyper ‘righter’ are in the same pit.. the pit of it all being about themselves. (Click Here To Read ‘Confessions of a Recovering Idealist’)
Sometimes right and wrong are as clear as a bell… my daughter punches your son in the nose for no reason, that’s wrong and we deal with it appropriately. However, other times we are left to discern what the ‘right way to go’ is and that can be challenging. Do we look to culture to steer us, or to our own upbringing or our financial situation to help us make the ‘right’ choice? The problem with that is sometimes ‘right’ in those situations looks different depending on the condition you are in at the time. For example, you’ve been working a ton, your family needs to be prioritized and you all need some vacation. But, you are living hand-to-mouth and can’t justify it financially. What is the ‘right’ thing to do? Do you take your kids to Disney World, invest time and money into your family but create a massive debt that will be looming for months to come? Some would say, “you pay your mortgage every month, which is debt spread out over several months and you don’t feel bad about that, so just go for it… you guys need it.” Others would say, “no, that’s ‘not right’ because it’s a short-term solution that will create a bigger problem later… suck it up, and save your money and take a vacation later.” But you need a break now. What do you do? What is the ‘right’ thing to do? (Click here to read my post on how we often want the Byproducts Without The Work)
The Same Song and Dance
If our motivation is anything other than being lead by the Holy Spirit then we will perform for one group or the other, demonstrating how ‘right’ of a decision we made. To the Dave Ramsey crowd (I love Dave Ramsey but am just making a silly point) we muscle through, order the free Disney DVD promo disc in the mail, pop some popcorn, watch it together on the couch one night and call that vacation on a budget! We parade our ‘right’ decision to the applause of those that agree with that line of thinking. OR, we demonstrate our courage to the ‘go for it’ crowd and have ‘faith’ for the money to pay the trip off later as we zoom down I-4 headed to the land of The Mouse. Which is right? Some of it depends on your financial situation. Some of it depends on the level of agreement you and your spouse come to. One camp will say you made the ‘right’ decision and the other will tell you that you made the ‘wrong’ decision no matter what you do. So do you simply choose which crowd to take a bow before? I think, we ask the Lord, come to a place of agreement with our spouse and move forward with the peace He gives on either. (Click here to read my post on Possessing The Land)
Being lead by the Holy Spirit is uncomfortable to the crowd. It always has been, and it always will be. To use our example above, if you are lead by the Holy Spirit one day it will look like you fit nicely into the ‘Dave Ramsey’ camp and the very next day it will look like you’re a card carrying member of the ‘Go For It’ camp. The issue is, are we comfortable enough to let Him lead us when we are assured to offend both camps at one point or another? Ultimately, we have to lift the standard above ‘right and wrong’ and determine to ask the Lord what pleases Him. What pleases God in the situation you are in, is the right thing to do… every time. What if He wants to bless your family and surprise you with the funds for the Disney Trip once you make the decision to go? What if the promotion you’ve been needing at work is coming your way that very week you were planning on throwing caution to the wind and going to Disney World without the peace from the Lord? The point is EITHER can be right, but ONE will be what pleases God in THAT CERTAIN SITUATION. You have to ask, you have to come into agreement and you have to choose, not based on the applause of one camp or the other, but on what God speaks to you in THAT given situation. We want a ONE SIZE FITS ALL solution to all our subjective problems. That’s what religion claims to offer. Just add water and you’ll get it right every time. That is simply not true. Our life with God is much more a dance than it is a business meeting. (Click here to read my post on Not Making Snap Judgements)
The Lord loves you and is patient with you. He has been SO patient with me. His goodness and His mercy leads us well when we will be content to live under His approval as opposed to the applause of the crowd. Keep your eyes on Jesus, let Him show you the places you have been in error and watch how gently He leads you in paths of righteousness, for His Name’s sake. You’ll get it right every time, when you live to see a smile on his face in every circumstance.
From the Bible
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23:1-3 NIV
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. – Proverbs 16:9 NIV
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21 NIV
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