Do Right, Even in the Rain - Martin Wiles

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17 NLT

She pushed her shopping cart … and received an award.

The news story captured my interest. A middle-aged lady pushing a shopping cart full of groceries in a wind- and rain-driven storm. But that wasn’t what stole my attention. When she finished putting the groceries into her car, she left her back hatch up and rolled the buggy to the shopping cart stand.

This happened in a well-known retailer’s parking lot. Whether a fellow customer captured the scene on video and reported it or whether someone representing the retailer observed it on the security camera, I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter.

The retailer decided to reward the woman’s right behavior. After all, shopping carts litter this retailer’s parking lot on a regular basis. Carts that roll down hills and strike customer’s cars or that have to be run down by employees picking up the carts to return them to the store. I suppose they thought they’d make an example … a good example … out of this woman.

And reward her they did. For an entire year, she can call the store, place a grocery order, have an employee gather her items, drive up to the front of the store, and have her groceries placed in her car without ever getting out—or getting wet. All because she did the right thing … even in the rain … when she didn’t even know anyone was observing.

James says when we know to do the right thing, but don’t, it’s a sin.

Integrity, doing the right thing, entails doing the right thing even when others are not looking at us. When we do, our motives are pure. The lady returning the cart had no idea she would be rewarded—or was even being watched.

Doing right isn’t always easy. Some won’t appreciate it, others won’t notice, and some may even bully us because we have. Our audience is made of only one person: God. As long as we please Him, others don’t matter.

Our acts of integrity also make the world a better place as well as influences others positively. Perhaps some who didn’t return carts now will. Acts of good have a way of permeating society and of leading others to do the right thing too.

So, go ahead. Do the right thing … even if it’s raining, or unpopular, or misunderstood, or invites persecution.

Prayer: Father, cause us to do the right thing even if it’s not popular or if there are negative consequences involved.

Tweetable: Do you do right...regardless? 

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