When Doing the Right Thing Is Wrong

(See Luke 10:38-42)

Martha was a practical doer, a hard worker who took her tasks seriously. Therefore, when she had guests in her home, she worked diligently to provide them with a good meal. Yet, her younger sister had her mind somewhere in the clouds and sat visiting with the guests without offering to help. Martha's hospitality would have normally been a good thing. However, in this case, her sister Mary's choice was actually better. You see, Martha saw her kitchen chores as more important than hearing what Jesus had to say, while Mary chose to learn at the feet of Jesus. It is wrong to view anything as more important than our Lord.

(See Luke 15:11-32)

An older brother ended up in an even worse situation. His younger brother had talked his father into giving him his inheritance early and then went away to blow it all in partying and wild living. When times became hard and all his money ran out, his so-called friends deserted him, and he ended up slopping hogs and eating some of their food to keep from starving. Realizing that even his father's servants had it better, he decided to go home and ask to be taken back as a servant. But when his father saw him coming home, he welcomed him with joy and threw a feast in his honor.

The older brother came home and couldn't believe what was happening. He refused to take part in the celebration and could not reconcile that his sibling would be welcomed after what he had done. After all, the elder brother had been faithful and true to their father, while the younger one had been foolish and uncaring. His father tried to explain that the younger son would not get any further inheritance, but the older brother would have none of it and stomped away mad. It was good that the older brother had remained a dutiful son, but his unforgiving, jealous attitude was sinful. Doing the right thing did not give him the right to be harsh and judgmental toward someone who had chosen the wrong course but repented.

There are lessons for us in both of these situations. If we don't stay in God's Word daily, pray often, and let the Spirit be our guide, we might think we are doing right but actually be in the wrong.

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