Do the Right Thing All the Time

I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do. --Romans 7:15

We live in a fallen world.  For all of our intentions to "do the right thing", we invariably lose our resolve.  Many times we embarrass ourselves, and often we bear the scars of our mistakes until our dying day.  Such was the case of a young king of Judah named Uzziah. Living in the eighth century B.C., Uzziah was only 16 years old when he ascended to the throne.  Even at such a young age, he wanted to do the right thing.

"He did was was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done.  He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God.  As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success."  (2 Chronicles 26:4-5).  Uzziah was successful in driving out the Philistines who had settled in the outskirts of Judah.  The Ammonites saw his military prowess, and began paying him tribute so that he would not wage war against them.  Uzziah used this money to fortify the walls of Jerusalem, and to build towers there for defense.  He also was able to build towers in the desert to the south, and cisterns to water his livestock there.  He had a standing army of over 300,000 men, and he was able to outfit each one with a shield, a spear, a helmet, a coat of armor, a bow and a slingshot.  He was able to use advanced technology in warfare, because the Bible says, "In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skillful men for use on the towers and on the corner defenses to shoot arrows and hurl large stones." (2 Chronicles 26:15a)

In addition to a strong military, Uzziah used the peace-time to employ keepers of his livestock, as well as people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, "for he loved the soil." (2 Chronicles 26:10).  Unfortunately, Uzziah got the big head.  He became arrogant and proud.  Look at what happened to him later in his reign:

But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.  He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.  Azariah the priest, with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord, followed him in.  They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord.  That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense.  Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God."  Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry.  While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord's temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead.  When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out.  Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.  King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died.  He lived in a separate house--leprous and excluded from the temple of the Lord.  Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. --2 Chronicles 26:16-21

Can't you just imagine this royal figure, who had won so many battles and defeated his enemies, who had overseen the raising of crops and herds and vineyards in the land he governed--can't you just see him deciding that he, himself would give an offering to God.  When the priests scolded him, he shot back at them.  "Who are you to question my authority?  Why, I am King Uzziah.  My fame has spread all the way to Egypt.  People tremble at my name!"

But in the middle of this rant, God sent a reminder of who was in charge.  God hit him right between the eyes with the most feared disease of their time.  Leprosy was unclean, and very contagious.  Not only did God afflict him with this dread disease, but he had the outbreak on his face, where all could see it.  It was not hidden on a more modest part of his body, where it might be covered by his clothing.  Since it was visible to all, he was not only banished from the temple, but also from the palace he called home.  He was relegated to a shack, living alone outside of the seat of power.  All because he had forgotten who had made him successful.  He became selfish and self-centered, even in his act of worship.

We could never become that self-centered, could we?

Recently there was a scandal involving a Christian leader in San Antonio named Doug Phillips.  An attorney and father of eight, Phillips was a publisher of home school curriculum.  He advocated large families, headed by a strong male figure.  He was a published author, writing books such as The Bible Lessons Of John Quincy Adams for His Son (2000) and Poems for Patriarchs (2003).  He founded Vision Forum Ministries as a venue to share his message.  The web page for Vision Forum Ministries includes this statement:

Every age faces crises that may prove defining to it. One of the crisis which history may record as defining our generation is the systematic annihilation of the Biblical family. The family was the first institution created by God and blessed by Christ during His earthly ministry. It is God's primary vehicle for communicating covenant promises to the next generation. It is the basic agency of dominion on earth.

While the family is under attack from every side today, God's sufficient Word provides clear direction and hope to rebuild the family, and it is our goal at Vision Forum to promote courageous fatherhood, noble motherhood, virtuous boyhood and girlhood through vision-casting discipleship tools that teach, equip, and inspire. Whether you are a father who desires to better lead your family, a homeschooling mother who is looking for Biblically-based curriculum choices, or a grandparent, child or young person who desires encouragement in your Christian walk, we have something for you.

But on October 30, 2013, Doug Phillips admitted to a ten year affair with the nanny of his children.  He resigned as chairman of Vision Forum Ministries, and the Board of Directors voted to disband the entire organization because of the shame brought on by this scandal.

What could he have been thinking? Didn't he read his own mission statement?  I think I know.  He probably thought that talking to this young girl helped relieve his stress.  He likely thought that holding her hand and caressing her helped her to understand him better.  He probably thought that being intimate with her made him feel good, and that when he felt good, he was better able to do his job.  He might have even cited Biblical figures who had concubines or multiple wives, in order to justify the affair to himself.  But when it was brought to light, when it was out there for all to see, he was ashamed.  He was outcast.  He was brought low.

This type of thing happens more often than we like to think about.  My wife and I had coffee this week with a woman who goes to our church.  We had just heard a message from Max Lucado.  He was citing his most recent book, You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times.  The message of the book struck me as one that might help thousands in crisis.  But the woman, who is a friend of my wife, told us how she had come into possession of her copy.  Apparently, her common-law husband had decided several month ago to leave her for a younger woman.  The man and his new girlfriend also go to this church, and they had also heard Lucado touting his book.  So they decided to buy a copy and deliver it to his ex, the woman we were having coffee with.  Along with a copy of the book was a letter, intended to encourage the jilted ex-spouse.

My wife's friend was wishing a public shaming of her ex-husband and his new girlfriend, but she wasn't holding her breath.  Her thought was that they were doing what made them feel good: staying in this adultrous relationship, while applying a balm to their conscience by giving a self-help book to her.  This seems to be the culture of today--doing what feels good.  She vowed to go on without him, but held no real expectation that he would see the error of his ways.  He apparently could not see the absurdity of what he had done.  One day he might, either in this world, or the next.  He may repent, but it will be too late for their relationship.  He doesn't know it now, but he will bear the scars of this decision for years to come.

Oh, that we would think about the long-term consequences of our decisions, rather than reveling  in the turpitude of today.  Look before you leap.  Think before you throw your life away.  Pray before you play.

You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. --Matthew 5:13