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What Motivates You
to Do What is Right?
“And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead,
they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite
us all the evil which we did unto him” (Genesis 50:15). Joseph’s brothers
had been shocked at the good treatment they received from Joseph when he
first revealed himself to them in Egypt, but now that their father was
dead, they supposed that he would probably take his revenge. Why would
they think such a thing? Had Joseph given them any indication of this?
No. But, as often happens, they assumed that Joseph’s motives for doing
what was right toward them was the same as their own often were--pleasing
their father. However, when they urged Joseph not to do anything to them
in accordance with Jacob’s wishes, “Joseph wept when they spake unto him”
(Genesis 50:17).
Joseph behaved righteously toward his brothers from a
righteous heart-not because of his father’s desires. For some reason, many
people today think that it is a great accomplishment to teach their children
to do what is right “for their sake.” We need to return to a desire for
righteousness, so that we do what is right because it is right, because
God said it, because it is the best thing to do. When we need motivation
to do right beyond the fact that it is right, we lack integrity. “But seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Creation vs. Evolution
The recent flare up in the creation/evolution debate in
our country demonstrates how much tension exists regarding the origin of
the universe. Many insist on a completely naturalistic explanation, claiming
that any view that requires God is unscientific. If you take the time to
read their writings, you will quickly realize the arrogant snobbery and
intellectual elitism these secular humanists have as their core belief.
Others compromise, claiming to believe in both God and evolution. These
people have cowardly caved in to the demands of evolutionists because their
faith is too weak to take God at his Word.
The Bible begins by saying, “In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NKJV). The account that follows
markedly disagrees with the evolutionary theory, making all attempts to
“harmonize” the two a sad commentary on the hermeneutics of those involved.
Some attempt to justify a belief in God and evolution by denying that the
Genesis record is accurate, but this would mean that it was deliberately
misleading-an implication with serious consequences (Titus 1:2). Then the
atheists who attempt to browbeat others with their scientific jargon have
the gall to call belief in creation “unscientific” when the biblical account
squares with all known facts. They call us unscientific because
we do not accept their interpretation-pure and simple. Besides, macroevolution
itself defies many laws of science. Now, who is unscientific?
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