The Courage to do the right thing
In our lives, we are confronted with situations and decisions that have to be made. In many situations, life forces to make a simple choice, a) or b). In many other cases, our options are counted in single digits and a resolution has to take place immediately, sometimes must be done instantaneously and without hesitation.
This article is not precisely about courage, but courage to do do the right thing even if that might tarnish or decimate personal aspirations or goals.
In fact, I believe that doing what is “right” has many connotations, and some may even argue that, there is no “right” thing to do. However, I do believe that doing what is right has been part of our decision making process for centuries if not from the existence the first human tribes, and hence if the modern world some try to redefine what “right” means, there is no substitute to you conscience, basic decency and in some philosophies was is called “karma.”
Doing a a wrong to do a right is a common dilemma, maybe a poor decision if it was made without analysis and thought, it could be acceptable. The fact that you don’ have time to choose well because all took place in a split of a second and you had decide, for instance, to hit the wall in the highway and injure your family, or hit another vehicle and or multiple vehicles to slow yourself down and injure many more, because you thought that in that way you could have been protecting your family.
That obviously might be an extreme case and i bet God in that situation will intercede for you and other options may be available to be made.
However, are there then no reference points on what is right and how that right thing is ? Yes, there is, if you are a Christian , in the holy bible stipulates many passages address this same issue, for example:
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:37
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.- Romans 2:6-8
Hence, God himself points out that you just a) defend the rights of the poor and the needy, b) self-seeking and do not obeying the truth has terrible consequences.
In fact, one of the first teachings God brings to the bible are a) blind faith, and b) surrendering your own best gift even from him to honor his glory.
God wanted to know if Abraham would obey him. God told him to sacrifice Isaac on a mountain. – Genesis 21:-9
This is a very interesting story as God is requesting Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrificial lamb, and Abraham after having no children and waiting for over a century to have a child, had to make a choice: a) Ignore God’s request and trade the offering, b) Do God’s will and obey, blindly Abraham chose to obey God and God provided him a substitute sacrificial lamb. Hence, you have to let God have the final call and do what is right.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding – Proverbs 3:5-6
Hence, you should not only obey God and do what is right, even when what is right goes against you own personal desires and aspirations, you must trust in the Lord with all your heard with all yourself, and trust him blindly.
As 2016 ends, and we approach 2017, I am personally making a pledge to do what is right, pray the Lord to give you the courage to do wha tis right, and to trust in God with all help you to face consequences of all that has been done and all has happened in 2016 is for his Glory and love. I would also encourage you all to give yourselves to charity work, help your bother and neighbor in need, and do it with kindness without expecting a thing. Do what is right in 2017 and you will do more for mankind that anything else.
