Why Do the Right Thing?

One of the great tragedies of the 1980’s in Kansas City was the collapse of an overhead walkway in the fashionable Hyatt Regency hotel. Over a hundred people were killed when the unsupported walkway crashed under the weight of people swaying to music and fell on those dancing beneath it.

After that catastrophe, one man reported that on his way to the Hyatt that evening, he had stopped at a filling station. Annoyed with the slow attendant, he spoke some sharp words before driving away. He arrived at the Hyatt moments after the collapse. Humbled, he drove back to the filling station and thanked that slow attendant for saving his life.

At times we see our immediate situation and think we know what we want. We would quickly surrender our ideas if we could see the final outcome of some of our decisions.

Sometimes the cost of doing the right thing seems too high at the moment. However, we often realize later, that the cost of doing what we please is the costly choice.

On the other hand, the rewards of daily surrender are far greater than we realize they’ll be. We discover that once we decide to obey, God gives the grace needed. Elaine was having trouble obeying what she knew the Lord asked of her. Finally she said, “Okay, Lord, in this one thing, I’ll obey You. I may never be able to do it again, but I will this one time.”

She determined to obey God by responding with a gracious, forgiving spirit in a difficult situation. “At first, it was not easy,” she admitted, “but then I was surprised at the joy of obedience!”

Thank you, Lord, for grace to do the right thing.

“I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees” (Psalm 119:145).