How to Do the Right Thing

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. - 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22

It is amazing how we can rationalize sin in our own lives, yet when someone else does it, it is wrong. We have little double standards that we develop, thinking that what is acceptable for us isn't acceptable for anyone else.

When you are wondering whether something is okay to do as a Christian, here is something you should do: Pray about it and bring it into the clear light of the presence of Jesus Christ. Ask, "Is this a situation that makes me more vulnerable to temptation? Can I ask God's blessing on it?"

For example, you would never pray, "Lord, bless us tonight as we go out and party and get drunk. We pray that no one will get a DUI and that I won't say something I will regret in the morning." Or, "Lord, bless me as I divorce my husband-my faithful, decent Christian husband who has loved me. Just bless me as I divorce him, because I met a cuter guy that I want to marry instead." We would never verbalize such prayers, yet some Christians will do these things because they rationalize them. When you pray about some things you are about to do, bringing them into the clear light of the presence of Jesus Christ, you just might reconsider them.

Something else to think about is how you would feel if you saw another Christian doing the same thing. Would it seem wrong? The Bible tells us to avoid the very appearance of evil. So it is not only a matter of doing the wrong thing, it is even doing something that would look like you are doing the wrong thing. Avoid even that. Be smart about the choices you make. And as much as possible, stay out of the way of temptation.