Everywhere you turn, whether it’s the nightly news, cable news, print news, social media, talk radio, etc, it seems that you just can’t get away from the horrors and tragedies that seem to be engulfing our society. The news’ cycles spend countless amounts of time reporting on crimes and incidents such as, shootings, murders, bombings, theft, drug overdoses; not to mention political correctness run afoul (whether it is a perceived micro-aggression, anti-this, anti-that, or the use of “trigger” words – leaving thin-skinned people to scramble for “safe” places to hide in). Very little time is spent on reporting where people have extended grace, mercy, and kindness to someone else when it was most needed. And I have to ask, “Why is this the case?”
A couple nights ago while watching the nightly news, my wife and I were amazed that embedded in all of the day’s “news” was a story about a high school student that worked and saved his money for a couple years – not to spend it on himself – but he used the money to buy his friend in high school a much needed electric wheel chair. This young man looked beyond his own wants and desires and truly helped someone who was in need. Again I have to ask, “Why aren’t more of these types of stories aired on the news?” Is it because it doesn’t help ratings unless the dregs of our society are broadcast unceasingly? Just consider the changes that could be made in our society if more airtime was spent broadcasting good deeds instead of bad and atrocious deeds. In effect, our society has normalized bad behavior, and for those seeking attention, they are led to believe that bad deeds bring more attention to someone than good deeds.
Now we must broach the underling question as to “why” we are at this juncture. I personally believe the root cause can be found in the lack of God in our society. Society criticizes people for invoking the name of Jesus Christ. Students in K-12 classes are told not to bring “religious” paraphernalia to school (whether it be a Bible, a devotional reading, or a cross around their neck); they are told not to pray before they eat; they are told not to put up signs with Bible verses; sporting events are to be devoid of praying prior to the event; and the list goes on. Then you have college professors who mock their students for standing for their faith – and the students are often silenced out of fear that their grades will be negatively impacted.
So, is there any hope that this ship can be righted? I believe there is – and it comes down to the basics. Let’s return to the young man that bought his friend the wheel chair. He did not ask for notoriety; others praised him. The Lord commands us in His Word in the second great commandment in Matthew 22:39,
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Jesus Christ also stated in Matthew 5:44,
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Jesus went on to state in Matthew 6:1-4,
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
When the true norms are returned to our society (meaning, Godly principles are applied to our daily lives, Christ’s name and God’s Word are held high), the society as a whole benefits; not only in the short term – but in the long term as well. And, we will be less swayed to cower down in fear of offending someone else.
Though you and I do not seek the notoriety for the good deeds that we may do, the Lord knows what we are doing in His name. You and I can have an impact in our small world, and in the lives of those that we associate with. The Lord also warns us of the following in James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Let us turn our hearts and minds towards doing good in the will of the Lord – and pray that we will impact the world in a positive way.
