Acquire the Will

September 2

Doing what is right isn’t in the nature of man. Oh, we like to think we’re good. We have a grand opinion of ourselves that says we’re generous, compassionate, understanding. Name the virtue. We think it’s ours. But the reality is that we’re good at affecting these qualities—often to camouflage our true attitudes and motives.

The Bible, which is among other things an insightful look into the heart of man, tells us that the heart of man is duplicitous. According to Proverbs 20:17, “The bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward, his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”

Speaking lies is rather like biting into cotton candy and finding sand in ones mouth.
A person may lie and scheme to gain an advantage over another—and it may seem to profit him in the short run—but over the long haul, he will undo himself by the very lies that seemed to work to his favor. Ultimately, there is a severe penalty to be paid for resorting to the unsavory tactic of lying to advance ones interests.

In Titus 3:14 we are cautioned, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.” That brief sentence tells the believer that he must acquire the will to do good and that it is ultimately to his advantage to do so.