When I was a sophomore in high school, I learned a pretty simple and valuable lesson that has stuck with me ever since. It’s not even an exciting story, but the lesson was pretty profound.
I had first period P.E. at my high school of about 2000 kids. It was often cold, and always smelly, but I had to be there every day. I distinctly remember thinking, “Hey, since I’ve got to be here every day, I may as well get in shape while I’m at it.” That was it. That was my only motivator. Getting an “A” in P.E. was a foregone conclusion (everyone got “A’s,” it seemed), and I had no interest in working for the glory of God since I was not even a Christian yet. I just wanted to get in good shape.
So all year long, when my coach said “Do 20 pushups,” I did 20. Most of my classmates did 15-18 on principle; they weren’t going to be told what to do by any teacher, and the thrill is in getting away with not doing what you’re told. When we were told to run a mile, I’d go do four laps around the track, and the fat kids dogging it around the track would finish before me. The coach didn’t seem to notice or care, but I found out later that he did.
The results were clear. I dropped half a minute on my mile time and gained about six inches on my vertical leap. I was a hair’s breadth (or some longer fingers) away from dunking a basketball. I was in the best shape of my life to that point, and you know how I got there?
By doing what I was supposed to do.
It was that simple. I didn’t do extra things in P.E. class; I just did what I was told to do…what I was supposed to do.
THE PROBLEM
Doing what you’re supposed to do is hard. It’s harder to do 20 pushups than 15. It’s harder to be honest when it may hurt someone’s feelings than it is to lie. It’s hard to have a tough conversation when you know you’re going to be ridiculed or misunderstood; it’s easier to just not have the talk.
James 4:17 reads, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” It really doesn’t get simpler or clearer than that.
More often than not, our problem is not what we don’t know, it’s hating what we do know. We don’t want to do what we should because it’s hard, it means sacrifice, etc.
A WORKPLACE EXAMPLE
This principle carries over to all of life. In the workplace, an employee who will consistently do what he should be doing is not only of supreme value, but is also refreshing. If I’m working at Burger King and my manager tells me to go clean the hood vents (a disgusting job, mind you), here are my options: do what I should do, or don’t. What I should do is to follow the directions with a good attitude: go clean the hoods and smile! Anything other than that (e.g., following directions with a bad attitude, or not following them at all) is what I should not be doing.
And pathetically, employees like this are exceptional. Exceptional! People who show up and do what they’re supposed to do are not normal; they’re exceptional. “Normal” today involves slacking off and complaining about management, waiting until someone tells you what to do, hoping to get away with as little work as possible until that point.
IGNORANCE IS BLISS, SO WHY BE WISE?
So some may be thinking, “Well, then ignorance is key here: If I don’t know the right thing to do, I don’t have to do it!” Well, yes. I suppose. But the problem is, we all know more than we let on regarding what we should do. You probably already know too much to use that excuse successfully.
Besides, ignorance is not a valid excuse for inactivity. Saying, “Oh, I didn’t know” is tantamount to saying, “Oh, I don’t deserve any responsibility or privilege.” If you don’t believe me, try the “Oh, I didn’t know” excuse with the officer who pulls you over for doing 50MPH in a 35MPH zone. HINT: It doesn’t work. It’s your responsibility to know the right thing to do; if you don’t know, find out.
And this is where wisdom comes in. Christians are not called to be status quo citizens; we are called to be salt and light. We are called to reflect Christ in our communities, workplaces and other areas of influence. How can we do this if we’re not obeying our consciences and – at a minimum – doing what we know to be the right thing? More than that, this principle assumes that we work hard to pursue wisdom, that is, a greater understanding of the right thing.
Returning to the workplace example, the one who pursues wisdom will have a greater understanding of what is right in a given situation than most of his coworkers. He can then become….wait for it…a self-starter. Whoa! If the exceptional person is the one who does what he knows to be the right thing, what about person who also has a broader understanding of what is right in any given situation? Lots of people can drive the right speed in a 35MPH zone; that’s easy. But not just anybody can know the right thing to do when his sixth grader comes home with a school textbook that espouses a fallacious worldview.
Simply stated, the world would be a completely different place if we were faithful to do what we’re supposed to do.
WHERE TO START
I’m always trying to drill into my children the importance of doing what you should be doing. I regularly pray for them (and for Sonja and I!) to not only know the right thing to do, but for the courage and discipline to do it, and it’s an ongoing, uphill struggle with a pot of gold at the top.
“Ellie, what should you be doing right now?”
“Is that a good choice?”
“You know the right thing to do now, Abbie, so let’s do it.”
“Remember: doing the right thing is the way to lead a happy life.”
“Is that the way you want to be treated?”
“Okay, but what should you do first? Alright. Go do that then come back and tell me how it went.”
“Hey! I’m proud of you! You threw that away without even being asked. You knew the right thing to do, and you did it! Good job.”
I’m looking to always grow in this area myself. It’s not too early for my two-year old, and it’s not too late for me. Sure, work to grow in wisdom so that you can know the right thing to do. But more than that – like my children – work to act rightly on what you know.
Start wherever you are now. Work hard to grow in wisdom. Fill your mind with Scripture so you can’t help but filter your decisions through God’s Word. Listen to wise counsel, and do five times as much listening as you do talking.
EPILOGUE
Let’s go back to my sophomore year. At the spring academic awards night, I was named Outstanding P.E. Student of the Year. I believed then, as I do now, that that was pathetic. I did nothing exceptional, but simply did what I was told. Was I the only one? Perhaps. But by no means should I have been outstanding. I learned then that the way to succeed and to be distinguished is simply to do the right thing.
Now, many years later, I am motivated to do the same thing, but for a different reason: I want to see God honored in my life and in the lives of my family, and only by knowing – and doing – the right thing is that possible.
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