Doing What is Right

At the core of our being, what is the burning, white-hot motivation of life to do what you know to be right? What could possibly motivate us to take the difficult path, to face risks and danger with courage when our stock of courage is depleted? Why do what is right, when it is something that may be personally abhorrent and distasteful?

Although each one of us could provide a unique answer to these questions, I found it of interest to discover what our Savior had to say. He expressed the pinnacle of his motivation in terms of food, nourishment. What could be more fundamental than our daily food?

His answer is found in John 4. It is difficult to express how electrified, how thrilled Jesus was! This record is well worth studying.

John 4:31–35

[31] Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” [32] But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” [33] So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” [34] Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. [35] Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (ESV)

Harvest time is a time of earnest, enthusiastic labor, the last effort to secure the rewards of all the work done this season. The men in this area of Samaria wore white robes and turbans. In verse 30, it states that the men of the town came out of the city to see Jesus. In verse 35, Jesus told the disciples to literally look "…and see that the fields are white for harvest." They would have seen all these men, dressed in white coming towards them! No wonder Jesus was so focused on the joy of the harvest labor!

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

What an excellent statement! Jesus is well aware of his identity and the choices that he could make. Yet, it is his great, burning desire to make God's will his own will, and to accomplish God's will. So many times in life, we confront the question, "what is your will?"

Marriage and Leadership

Lately, an essay was posted by Dr. Stephen Phinney about the contemporary struggles of men in this feminist society. It really touched my heart, as my family line has been affected by this struggle for several generations. I highly recommend reading that essay, either before or after my essay: Male Loneliness is Out of Control

Here, I share an experience of this struggle I observed in my own family - it relates to "Doing What is Right".

My dad was born in 1926. His father was a passive and disinterested man. His mother was a domineering "social climber". I think it was a source of my dad's smoldering anger that affected him for so many years.

My dad did make an effort to be a better father, with mixed results. He turned to Christ as a teen, and worked diligently to become a pastor. The woman he married was a smart, educated daughter of a pastor. They were both affected by the feminist influences in post-war academia. They were equally skilled in logic, reasoning, and debate, which made for a very "spicy" relationship. Their arguments could be loud, stormy, and disturbing. (Dad never raised a hand against mom, and he taught me not to be demeaning in such arguments.) I remember hearing dad angrily exclaim "I won't be controlled by a woman!" 

Four Promises

Before she met my dad, mom made herself a promise. Before she married my dad, she had him make three promises to her.

After my brothers and I were born, dad came to believe that we were called to the mission field, and decided that we should go. This was a crisis for mom, as it was the final promise that dad broke. Now all three promises were broken. So, in prayer, mom presented all her concerns to God. His answer to her prayer was that yes, she should go! I can honestly say that she was at peace with that answer. From that moment on, she gave her enthusiastic support to dad and the mission work. There were other sacrifices that she made and we faced many difficult challenges. In this work, dad and mom were united. Without their unity of purpose, not much would have been accomplished.

Taking the short view, it would seem that "doing the right thing" cost our family a great deal. Speaking for myself, the experiences as part of a missionary family were absolutely essential in my spiritual development. Before she fell asleep in the Lord, mom stated that God had answered all her prayers. She seemed to have no remaining regrets.

By the way, the promise that mom made to herself was this - that she would never marry a pastor. She broke that promise herself. I think that act made it easier to forgive my dad when he broke his promises to her. Their relationship with God came first.

Conclusion

We may be far from perfect in how we conduct our lives as husbands, wives, and parents. Regardless, what burns in our soul, what is paramount in our thinking, who or what do we serve?

Joshua 24:14–15

[14] “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. [15] And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (ESV)

This is the fundamental choice each of us make, every day. Everything else in life flows out of this decision. Choose wisely.

2023 Keith Radcliffe