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Do the Right Thing, No Matter What

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*Posted by Joe Wooddell

I sometimes hear believers who are discouraged say things like:

  • I prayed and nothing happened
  • I could never see that person changing
  • What I do or say won’t make any difference
  • I feel trapped; this situation is hopeless

Fill in the blank with whatever besets you: your own sin, someone else’s, or perhaps not seeing your hopes and dreams (for yourself or someone else) fulfilled. It is part of our fallen human nature to get discouraged and give up, but it is probably part of the image of God in us or His law written into us and into the universe that makes us want to keep fighting for what’s true, good, and beautiful. Never give up on these things. Keep trying. Keep praying. Keep working. Keep finding ways to do it better, wiser, godlier, more biblically.

The Bible says not to “lose heart, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9). Reaping eternal life is the context, but it is often true in this life as well: “Do not grow weary of doing good” (2 Thes. 3:13). Practical as always, Proverbs advises: “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense” (12:11). We tend to worry, but we are advised not to worry about anything; rather, pray about everything (Phil. 4:6). When we do this, God’s peace washes over us (v.7).

We might never see the results of our prayers, our witness, our work, our giving of time, talent, and treasure, but it doesn’t matter whether we see the results we want. If we have an eternal perspective we simply do what’s right and leave the rest up to God. We share Christ with family and friends, pray for them, invite them to church, live out Christ’s character before them, confess and apologize (to them and to God) when we mess up, and leave the results up to God. This doesn’t mean our hearts don’t sometimes break with disappointment, and it is much easier to preach than to practice.

We work hard at transforming culture for the better, take the best ideas on politics, economics, the arts, education, etc., implement what we can at every level, and leave the results up to God. We write, dialogue, argue, create; we become homemakers, entrepreneurs, employees and employers in nearly every field, help create the best goods and services, earn a profit, support our families, tithe, give to charity, invest, create wealth, and try to leave things better than we found them. We do all this and leave the results up to God. Yes, of course, we plan specifically for certain results, but God causes the growth (1 Cor. 3:6).

This is not a social or prosperity gospel, not a postmillennial attempt to usher in the Kingdom of God on earth, not a push for theocracy, and not a utopian ideal. Our intermediate goal is to make the best of a fallen world: first, with respect to the “the saving of the lost; this above all else” (as Dr. Criswell famously wrote in his vision for Criswell College). But it also includes loving our neighbor as ourselves, and praying for all in authority so we might live quiet, godly, dignified, tranquil lives here and now, again so the lost might be saved (1 Tim. 2:1-8). As a premillennialist, I believe things will worsen until Christ returns, but that doesn’t mean I give up, or that spiritual or physical progress won’t happen in some times or places. In like manner, my body is wearing down and dying, but that doesn’t mean I quit exercising or eating healthy (even if I am diagnosed with a terminal illness).

The point is this: Don’t lose heart, don’t give up, do the right thing, no matter what. You and I have very little knowledge of what our prayers, our witness, and our work are accomplishing. (Of course, the same could be said of our sin! Even our “private” sins affect others eternally.) Our job is simply to stay close to God, to obey, and leave the results up to Him. We should take great comfort in knowing the fate of the world doesn’t rest on us, but on our maximally perfect God and Father.



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