Cathy’s Corner
This month we’ve been teaching about doing the right thing. There is a saying, “It’s never wrong to do the right thing.” At least I think there is a saying like that. If there isn’t, then it still is true. There was a show I ran across last week about a hidden camera crew who was watching people to see how they would react to certain situations and if they would do the right thing in certain situations. In one of those it was set up for a guy to take the gas pump from someone else’s car and fill his tank up while they were inside. Those who were outside watching this happen were being observed to see what their reaction would be. Some people just looked on in amazement, not saying a word. Others might tell him he shouldn’t be doing that, but for the most part, no one really got involved. Then there was the woman who saw what he did, told him to stop and then stood in front of his car so he couldn’t leave. When the person who was stolen from came out, she told them what had happened. She was indignant that he would be so bold as to do something like that.
It says a lot about us and our character when we do the right thing. Some people are just in shock when they see something happen and just stand around like they can’t believe what they are seeing. They don’t respond because they are processing what’s going on in front of them. In this day and age, we’ve also learned that we can actually be putting ourselves and possibly those around us in danger if we do step in to intercede when something is happening. Fear is definitely a motivator for not interfering.
What about when you have information concerning something that you know shouldn’t be happening or you know something that should happen and isn’t? We all see things, hear things and have a gut instinct about certain things. But what do you do when you’ve been enlightened and you have the information? There is no turning back; you can’t just ignore it or put it out of your mind. By divulging the information you have, it’s probably going to cause you some stress and aggravation or maybe even the loss of your job. No one’s going to know if you don’t tell; it probably won’t even come out.
What’s your response? It’s easy to say we would do the right thing, but when faced with the situation, it may not be that easy. I honestly have to say that I’ve been faced with that situation more times than I can count and unfortunately, in church work, just as often as in the secular world. Disappointingly, sometimes the reactions weren’t any different from those involved in the church and secular world. All you can do is what your conscience is telling you to do - which is what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do. It doesn’t matter that you may get a lot of grief from your superiors or the person that is in the wrong. You have to do what you know God wants you to do. I feel very responsible for our preschoolers and their families and for my teachers. I am obligated to protect them, as well as to teach and minister to them. We answer to someone higher than our spouse, our boss or the people we work with.
I can only imagine how hard it must have been for Daniel to stand up for what he believed in and to refuse to eat the king’s food. He probably got all kinds of grief and pressure to give in, but he chose to do the right thing. Joseph could have retaliated against his brothers because of all the grief they caused in his life, but he chose to forgive them and to do the right thing. Deuteronomy 6:18 says, “And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, …” Sometimes its not easy to do the right thing but its always what God wants us to do.
Have a great day in the Lord!
