Do the Right Thing

In the fifteenth Psalm, King David posed an important question: “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1). In essence, he was asking, “Who will be in Heaven?”

In response to his own question, the psalmist listed almost a dozen qualities that are consistently found in everyone who will one day walk the streets of gold. The first two of those qualities are of immediate concern, in this article.

“He that walketh uprightly,” is one who journeys through life with his head held high, because his sins are forgiven and he has nothing to fear (Hebrews 10:19-22).

“…and worketh righteousness” refers to one who consistently does the right thing, when he is confronted with a choice between right and wrong courses of action (Romans 6:16-18).

Every day, God’s children are confronted with temptation to sin, and must choose to do the right thing, in order to go to Heaven (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must learn to do the right thing, in every situation, if we want to go to Heaven.

The Right Thing Is Usually Not Easy to Do

In almost every moral/ethical dilemma we may face, the right thing to do is not going to be the easiest thing to do. As a matter of fact, the right thing to do is usually inconvenient, and problematic. By way of contrast, the wrong thing to do is typically the easiest way out of a dilemma. It is almost always the choice that promises to make light work out of the heaviest difficulties.

The difference between the right and wrong ways to handle a dilemma is best illustrated in the Savior’s teaching on the difference between the way to Heaven and the way to Hell. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The way to Heaven is difficult and fraught with obstacles, but the way to Hell is easy and much less difficult to navigate.

The Right Thing Is Usually Unpopular

As Jesus state in the preceding verses, “many” will choose to follow the way to Hell and “few” will follow the way to Heaven.

When confronted with a choice between doing what is morally right and doing what is morally wrong, most people choose to do wrong – often because that is what everyone else is doing.

This is why the Bible discourages us from using popularity to justify our actions. As the Lord advised the people of Israel, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2).

It was the majority of people who perished in the great flood (Genesis 6-9), and the majority of people who shouted for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (John 19).

Just because a particular course of action is popular – it does not necessarily follow that it is the right thing to do. The right thing is not usually the popular thing to do.

The Right Thing Offers Few Worldly Rewards

Many times, when confronted with a dilemma, doing the right thing is not easy, because it offers us no personal gain. We are a society of mercenaries, who are more interested in how we may profit from a situation than in suffering a personal loss for the greater good.

Yet, the Word of God urges us to be self-sacrificing and to place the good of others ahead of our own advancement (1 Corinthians 6:7). We must imitate the example of our Lord, who came to Earth, not for His own good, but for ours (Mark 10:45).

Simply because a given course of action is advantageous to us – it does not necessarily follow that it is the right thing to do.

These spiritual principles could be applied to any sinful act. Take lying, for example. Some of the reasons why it is so tempting to lie, when confronted with a situation in which telling the truth might not be so advantageous to us, are because it is easy to tell a lie, it is something that most people do every day, and it can save us from personal embarrassment. The problem with lying, of course, is that it is a sin, which will surely condemn us to eternity in Hell (Revelation 21:8). Like any sin, lying can carry with it some dire consequences, which can have a lasting negative effect upon our lives on Earth (Galatians 6:7,8).

Verily, it is always better to do the right thing, than to do the wrong thing, in any situation.