Major General T.K. Moffett walked back and forth in front of the assembled soldiers. The new boss from
#1. Do the right thing
#2. Treat others the way you would like to be treated
#3. Do your best.
In the shower the next morning I realized that I was able to recall each of his adages. (Normally I’m fortunate if I can remember one point within minutes after any speaker’s message!) Further reflection revealed profound wisdom in Moffett’s precepts.
“Do the right thing”—these four words demand moral integrity and upright conduct. They remind me of Jesus’ departing words to the woman brought before Him for committing adultery: “From now on sin no more” (John 8:11b, NASB). They imply proper risk assessment and that I operate in a safe manner. If I am hesitant about something or some course of action I probably shouldn’t do it.
“Treat others the way you would like to be treated” is a restatement of Jesus’ teaching: “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew
“Do your best,” address motivation and attitude. They allow for mistakes but insist on progress and a commitment to quality that comes from the heart. The Apostle Paul wrote the Ephesians, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men” (Ephesians 6:7).
Confusion is the child of complexity. So often I think we go astray because we forget to keep things simple. We forget the essentials. We lose sight of obeying God and striving to be like His Son in our frenzy to please ourselves. Consequently, we sacrifice tenets and acquire trouble. If godly rules form the foundation of our conduct and nourish our character, then God and those around us are honored. Something to think about . . . in reveration.
Meditation
Colossians 3:17—And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Inspiration
Those of us who are Christians ought to give a great deal more time to thinking on the fundamentals of our religion.—Oswald Chambers in Biblical Ethics
