WISDOM WEDNESDAY

Sometimes trying to do the right thing can be exhausting. What do you do when you get angry responses to well-intentioned actions or words? Words that you meant to be encouraging. Or when you smile and say hello, only to be met with silence and a deadly stare. The other day at Wal-Mart, I realized the cashier had not scanned an item and just put it in my bag. I knew this because I always check my receipt, especially when they are moving really fast. I’m not trying to pay for something twice! Anyway, I got back in line and let her know the mistake. She looked at me as if I was crazy. She probably was thinking why did I stand in line again to give it back like a fool, at least that’s what her look said. Sure, it would have been easier to keep it. But easy does not make it right. I’m no saint; I fall short daily, but that day I passed that test. It doesn’t matter that the cashier did not respond the way I thought she should have, what matters is that I did the right thing. When people act that way, it makes you wonder sometimes do your well-intentioned words and actions make any difference at all.

The answer to that question is yes, it makes a difference to Jesus Christ. He desires us to do the right thing at all times, in every circumstance. God’s standard is perfection, make no mistake about that. The reality is that we are sinful. Thank God that our relationship to Him is not based on our perfection, but on Christ’s. His perfect obedience is credited to us so when God looks at us, He sees us as perfect. If we could be perfect on our own strength, Christ’s death would have been unnecessary. (1 John 2:1) We are sinners, who because of our salvation, are saved by grace. Our goal should be to pursue and strive through  the power of God’s Spirit to live up to His standards. And that is what God expect of us.

 So let’s think about that before we react with hurt or anger when people do not respond in the way we expect them too. We must remember that we won’t always see the results we desire when we say or do things in love. We may not get a thank you or any type of appreciation when we do good things. We may not get recognized or any type of award. In Galatians 6:1-10, Paul encourages us to consider our motives and test our actions for what we say and do. If we do things from the heart, then we do not expect anything in return, not even a thank you (though it would be nice), our reward comes from above. As Paul says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. We must persevere. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” Think about that whenever you get weary or feel unappreciated. We will get nowhere when we trust in our own abilities. But when God leads us, we only want to please Him. It is through the power of God’s Spirit that we can truly love and help our brothers and sisters, even those who seem unappreciative. Love and Blessings…