• Have you ever closed your eyes towards your own mistake?
• Have you deliberately stayed away from doing what is right?
• Will you knowingly do things that would destroy your health?
People who are trying to be morally upright abstain from certain acts, like smoking, drinking and gambling. But, that is only one side of the coin. We are accountable for both the wrongs we do and the rights we don’t do. We may keep away from doing wrong for fear of punishment. But do we do the right thing even if it may cost us dearly?
We may take things for granted thinking nobody is going to be hurt by our inaction. We are accountable when knowing the truth we try to suppress it. We know people in our community or neighbourhood who are in need but do nothing though we are able to help. If we overlook the mistake of someone close to us instead of correcting that person, we are wrong. We know copying another student’s answer in the examination is wrong. Just the absence of an invigilator will not make it any less an offense. Cigarette packets display the message ‘smoking is injurious to health’, yet people spend money and smoke. We know we must work hard but we often look out for short cuts. We know we should not litter our neighbourhood and our public places, yet we throw garbage wherever we find it convenient. We gossip about others when they are not around even though we know it is wrong. Flirting and fooling around with the opposite sex is not the right thing to do but so many young people have misunderstood it to be trendy. We are to do what is right, all the time, whether we are being watched or not.
The general tendency is to think that if you are not caught then you may be right. Much of the corruption in our society is due to this attitude. When caught, people argue their case with blatant lies and all kinds of justifications. In the eyes of the law you may win but In God’s sight you are a loser and an offender.
A Christian should take care to do what is right irrespective of circumstances. “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17 NLT)
