“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17
Many times you will see or hear about a person who cheats the system somehow. In the work place people often “cut corners” to get the job done faster. In less obvious ways there are people who will not give a little cash for someone in need when they have it. On the surface these little things being done or not being done seem harmless. For some of these you probably won’t even see a rule against doing or not doing that action.
James puts it very clearly, however, that if you see something good to do, you must do it or else it becomes a sin for you not to do it. This puts a heavy responsibility upon a person. It is very easy to ignore something and let the other person do it. Each person has to remember that they are “that other person”.
Jesus had talked about how in the end He would deny those who denied Him. He described that denial as denying helping someone in need. Each believer needs to be willing to do any good that he can do when he can. If you choose to not do something you know that is good to be done, it becomes a sin for you to not do it.
Very often sin is looked at only in the things that should not be done. Some of these things are lying, stealing, drunkenness and others. But there are other sins also. A simple example is: if you are walking down a hallway and see a throw rug is turned up on end causing a trip hazard, if you do not set it straight and walk by it, you have sinned. You are allowing for there to be a danger to someone else that you could have prevented.
Today ask God to open your eyes to see the good that you can do today. Be willing to do anything good that comes before you. Do not turn away from doing anything good if it is in your power to do so.
I pray that today God will open your eyes to doing good things; that God will give you a servant’s heart to help others; that God will redeem the time spent doing good for Him and others; and that God will give you the strength to do all that is needed to be done by you.
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