What is Right

"So you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of the Lord." -Deuteronomy 21.9

This statement follows instructions about what to do if a body is found murdered in the open country. The elders of the city closest to the body were to break the neck of a heifer and then wash their hands over it, while praying for God's forgiveness over the shedding of innocent blood. When they did this, which was right in the eyes of God, the guilt was removed from them. When they did what was right there was no guilt.

There isn't much about high school that I vividly remember, but of all things, there is an event from my freshman year that stands out very clearly in my mind. I was in the cafeteria walking behind a girl, she dropped a dollar and didn't notice it. I picked it up and without a thought told her she had dropped it and gave it back to her. The moment I did I felt a hand on my shoulder, and heard the voice of my science teacher say, "I saw that, thanks for doing the right thing."

The thought had never entered my mind to keep the money, but I have often thought about what would have happened if I had. My teacher would have seen me do it, what would she have said? How would she have viewed me differently after that? Fortunately I didn't have to worry about it because I had done the right thing, and therefore had no guilt.

When we do what is right, there is nothing to be guilty for. When we do what is right we don't have anything to lose sleep over. When we do what is right we don't have anything to worry about.

Men, what would you have done in my situation? Yeah it was only a dollar, but what if it was fifty? What do you do when you are given credit for someone else's work? Do you accept it, or pass it along to where it is deserved? Doing the right thing, in addition to freeing you from guilt, strengthens your character and your reputation.

Let us strive to always do what is right. Let us not stray from the truth, and stand firm on morality. Let us be Men of God who do the right thing always.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor