James 4:17 (NIV)

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

How often have you said to yourself, “I shouldn’t have done that”? For a follower of Jesus Christ, this is a particularly dangerous way to live. Flagrant sin is never glossed over by the Lord…just ask Jonah. On the other hand, there is another sin that we tend to think isn’t quite as grievous: the sin of doing nothing when we should have done something.

James has laid out a practical blueprint for living the Christian life, and now that we have studied it we are responsible for acting upon it. Sadly, many of us think of the Christian life primarily in terms of what we SHOULD NOT do and we leave out or diminish the vast teaching on the things that we SHOULD be doing. Encouraging, serving, listening, praying, sacrificing, sharing, diminishing…all things that are “the good they ought to do.”

Don’t wait around for “divine appointments,” but rather, try to make every interaction divine by shining the love of Christ!

Don’t wait around for somebody else to help that person, but rather, take it upon yourself to help him or her!

Don’t wait around for someone to encourage the person who looks downcast and lonely, but rather, sacrifice some of your own time to love them yourself!

Remember: every time you are aware of some good that you ought to do, take the time to do it! If you don’t, it’s not just a missed opportunity…it’s a sin.