The Sin of Inactivity (Part 1)

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17, ESV)
Sometimes doing the right thing is very difficult. It may mean facing hurt, rejection, uncertainty or ridicule. However unpleased, none of these (potential) outcomes give us permission to ignore what God has asked us to do.
Far from bringing bondage and moroseness to life, going what God asks actually brings great joy. This is why the Psalmist said: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”” (Psalm 40:8, ESV). Unfortunately, many of us Christians have done our best to eradicate joy from our service to God so that doing what is right has become our duty rather than our delight. But God has designed us to experience the greatest joy and peace when we are walking in delightful submission to his will, not our own.
The first step to doing the right thing is, of course, knowing the right thing to do! It may seem like a no-brainer, but if we don’t know a supervisor’s expectations for our work, it’s very difficult to meet those expectations. The same is true of God’s commands. If we don’t bother to take the time to understand how he desires for us to live, we will not be able to stay on the right path.
Take some time today to seek out his will through his Word. You might be surprised at just how much you like it!