Just Do Right by Martin Wiles

Doing the right thing entails doing it even when no one is observing.

Marci Lederman often sees the worst in people. As operations manager of a small catch-all chain store in New Jersey, she observes customers on 50 closed circuit monitors. She watches customers steal and employees waste company time. But she’s never witnessed what she did after getting a call from local police stating that one of her stores had experienced an after-hours break in. What she saw was four large young men—football players from a local college, walk through the front door and pick up a few items. But they weren’t stealing. The store doors had accidentally been left unlocked, and the lights are normally left on. Thinking the store was open, they looked for someone to pay. Finding no one, they waved the items before the security camera and then placed their payment on the counter. They even paid the tax. Even when no one was looking—or so they imagined, they did the right thing. 

Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. (Psalm 4:4-5 NLT)

Doing the right thing is sometimes extremely difficult for me especially when it seems the majority is spewing out the wrong things and being rewarded for it. But the majority isn’t always right. In fact, they’re often wrong. Jesus said many travel the broad path of disobedience while only a few lumber down the narrow way of obedience. That being the case, doing the right thing may also result in me being persecuted—physically or otherwise. 

Life has taught me many lessons, but one stands out beyond the rest: doing right is never wrong. It may be laughed at or unappreciated, but it’s never wrong. Acting honorably always results in God’s blessings. 

Will you choose to do right and leave the consequences to God?

Prayer: Dear God, give us strength to continuously make the right choices regardless of what consequences might arise. 

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