"What Would Jesus Do"
by Bryan Woods
February 06, 2010
On my way home the other day I was listening to one of the Christian Radio Talk Shows and a caller had called in and asked the Radio Host to comment on a recent incident in her life.
It seems that the caller was single and lonely and was considering getting a pet for companionship. I don't recall all of the details, but the caller called the office of her apartment
complex to inquire about the pet deposit. She had been told that it was quite expensive and if I recall correctly, she was inquiring about a possible reduction in the costs or maybe it was
deferment. I'm not sure. Upon inquiring to the Leasing Agent the caller was informed that yes there was a deposit required and in addition there would be an monthly increase to the
callers rent. However...the Agent continued to tell the caller that they often "looked the other way" in regards to the pet policy.
The callers question to the radio host was, "If the Apartment Complexes rules required deposits and rent increases, was it moral and ethical to accept the privilege at no cost as the
Leasing Agent had suggested?"
So the radio host posed a question to the public. "How would you determine whether or not it was sin to accept the Agents offer?"
Several callers called in to respond, and most stated that they didn't think that she should accept the offer, but no one explained why they felt it would be wrong or how they determined
that it would be wrong.
I listened to the various callers and contemplated the various reasons why I thought the offer was wrong, and what principles should be used to determine my actions.
My dad once told me that "...Anytime you ask yourself if something might be wrong, it usually is".
In the case of the caller...the agent offered to "look the other way" to allow the call to avoid cost to have her pet. The caller didn't coerce the agent in any way. There is even a
possibility that the Complex Owners allowed this as an unspoken means of advertisement (not likely, but possible), but this is just an assumption.
Without fully having all of the information, how would we determine whether our actions are sinful when the situation is unclear.
Sometimes the simplest solutions are overlooked because of their simplicity. Sometimes we just have to ask ourselves "What would Jesus do"?
This phrase is so commercialized and so often used, that the power of the words are very often missed. We see these words on key chains and necklaces, tee shirts and bible covers,
tattoo's and bumper stickers.
Jesus was creator of all things, but paid his taxes, as it was the law of the land. There are may circumstances that might and will arise in our lifetimes that are vague when it comes to
making right decisions, especially in todays society and in the eyes of mankind, but God gives wisdom to all who ask (James 1:5).
I think that we all (especially Christians) tend to compromise on so many levels when our personal desires or comfort are involved. Look at the percentages for Christian divorce.
Throughout the Bible the Lord gave us rules and guidelines to follow in order to prepare us (Mat 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.) for His
kingdom. Yet we tend to compromise our morality for our personal pleasures. Just look at the Book of Judges. Throughout that book are stories about Gods people compromising and
suffering for their actions. Look how Samson suffered to please his own personal desires.
When we accept the Lord as our own Personal Savior we become a new creation (2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold,
the new has come.), and as a new creation, we must not fall to complacency and compromise. We were given the Armor of God to combat temptation to compromise.
Many of us Christians choose to divorce simply because they're not happy. Not because of infidelity or verbal and/or physical abuse, but simply because they aren't happy, and even
though this is contrary to Gods will, they plow on through a separation because they choose they're own happiness over Gods desire.
What we should be doing when the temptation to choose our own desires over Gods desires arises, is to cry out to Jesus. To pray that He will deliver us from our own lustful desires.
Pray through till we receive His answer or aid. Sometimes we may suffer for a long while, but the Lord will always reward our obedience.
I know these things to be true, because I suffer these same problems and because the Word of God tells me so, and I know the Word of God to be true and infallible.
If we say we believe, but do other than Gods will, we sin against Him. How can we dare to try and justify our actions.
In all of our actions, we should always ask ourselves "What would Jesus do?" and then do likewise. If there is no joy in making that decision, then pray for strength and continue in the
way that Christ would have us go. We will be rewarder for our obedience when we strive to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect!
Website: www.cic-thesource.com Email: bryan@cic-thesource.com
|
|
