God’s Word Shows Us What Is Good
The prophet Micah clarifies from the start that there is no need for us to be confused about what we should do to be considered wise individuals. He walks his reader straight into a simple list of actions and attitudes God requires of everyone willing to ask. I love that God’s Word is a moral compass for anyone willing to pay attention. Where else can you get such a straight answer to what is good in God’s eyes?
First, the wise person recognizes that God requires justice or fairness in treating people. In the Bible, justice means to make right; that is, people ensure that they live in the right relationship with God, one another, and the natural creation. To make right means that constant realignments are made as God’s Word and His Holy Spirit instruct us. Justice is not optional. Justice is required of all people.
Second, the wise person meets God’s righteous requirements by loving-kindness toward others. Kindness is defined as being friendly, generous, and considerate. It extends goodwill to others, and the wise person is compassionate and merciful. To be merciful is to open a hand of help to a person who deserves to be shunned or punished. Indeed, there is a compelling and challenging call for all who desire to do good!
Third, God requires that we walk humbly with Him. Let’s split that one up and focus on humility. To be humble means to be unpretentious. It is defined as being free of pride and a superior attitude towards others. Being humble means having a modest and correct evaluation of yourself as you compare yourself with others. It is easy to walk humbly when you compare yourself with Jesus! (smile)
The second part of the requirement is to walk with Him and not away from Him. The prophet Amos had an interesting observation about walking with someone:
The wise person walks humbly with God and chooses to go with God instead of willfully going their own way. Intelligent people should humble themselves by choosing to walk into the future following God’s directions, knowing that God knows the end from the beginning. The wise person submits to the Lord and says, “Father knows best!” Knowing that you don’t know what only God can know is wise.
It is not that hard to know what is good and bad for us in life. The wise person acts justly, loves kindness, and walks humbly with God daily! God’s Word shows us and serves as our moral compass, regardless of where the journey may take us.
Excerpted from The Daily Christian: Wisdom by Iann Schonken
Action Steps
- Are you serious about being fair towards people in your life? Are you committed to making things right so that your life is aligned with God, other people, and our natural world? Where can you do better? What are you going to do about it today?
- Do you love kindness, being friendly, generous, and considerate towards others? Where can you do better? Are you willing to put in the effort today?
- Do you see yourself as superior or inferior to others? Do you accurately assess who you are as a child of God?
- Are you still walking with God, having agreed on His direction for your life?
- Do you think you may need to make some mid-course corrections to catch up and get closer to God again?
- Will you do that? Great! That is what wise folks do. (smile)
