Be Right, Do Right
Proverbs 21:2,3 (NLT) “People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.”
Let’s face it. It is human nature to do what seems right in our own eyes. We rely on what makes sense, what we can figure out, what we can comprehend, and understand. We are used to making decisions for ourselves, living our own lives. And that is the problem.
When we want to get right with the Lord, we feel we must perform an ultimate sacrifice to tip the scales of justice in our favor. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. You can’t stack up enough goodie points with God to say I’m good enough for you to forgive me and good enough to enter Heaven. Verse 2 of Proverbs 21 shows that God is looking at your motives. As believers, we should naturally want to do the right thing without a precedent and without a self-seeking reward.
Have you ever noticed that a person who is cocky, arrogant, narcissistic, and full of pride can’t see that they are wrong? Because they see themselves as perfect. Someone else has to see their flaws. That is why God examines your motives. Are you doing good to let others perceive you as good, while you are only seeking to boost your ego?
Remember, doing what is right and good focuses on others. Not yourself. Yes, I know you are thinking, “Well, I gotta do what’s right for me because no one else is gonna take care of me.” Well, I have news for you. God knows how to take care of you better than you know how to take care of yourself. If you want to follow your own instincts, a couple of things will happen: You may get fortunate, or you will make mistakes. In both cases, God allows you to make your own decisions for your own life. But God knows your purpose, knows your weaknesses, knows your strengths, and knows the best way to help you accomplish your goals. God wants you to follow Him. He will never lead you down the wrong path.
A movie writer produced a movie years ago called “Do the Right Thing.” We should have the right motives and intent and do the right thing in the eyes of the Lord, regardless of how we feel.
Be Blessed!
Ron
Ron Cobbs Ministries © Copyright August 22nd, 2026, All Rights Reserved