INTRODUCTION: If I asked each on of you the question, "Do you want to do what is right?," I am sure all of you would say "yes." But do we really want to do right all time?

BODY

I. DO RIGHT EVEN WHEN "EVERYBODY'S DOING IT."

A. Two examples

1. 1 Peter 3:20- "who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water."

a. Noah served God, even when everybody else in his generation was wicked.

2. Shadrach, Neshach, and Abednego.

a. Daniel chapter three

B. Bible warns against following the crowd.

1. Exodus 23:2- ""You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice."

2. Matthew 7:13-14- ""Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. {14} "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

II. DO RIGHT EVEN WHEN YOU COULD GAIN MATERIALLY FROM SIN.

A. Look at Moses gave up.

1. Hebrews 11:24-26- "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, {25} choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, {26} steeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."

B. Some couldn't give up wealth to serve God in the New Testament.

1. Matthew 19:22- "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."

2. 2 Timothy 4:10- "for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica; Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia."

C. But there were some who gave up much for the cause of Christ.

1. Acts 19:19-20- "Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. {20} So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed."

III. DO RIGHT EVEN WHEN NO ONE WILL KNOW.

A. Consider Joseph.

1. Genesis 39:7-20 Potiphar's wife

2. Her husband had placed Joseph in a position which Joseph could use to have full access to his home. Potiphar was willing, and likely no one would know of their affair.

B. But some could not defeat temptation.

1. Achan could withstand the temptation to take some of the wealth of Jericho, likely thinking that no one would ever find out.

2. Joshua chapter seven

a. Joshua 7:20-21- "And Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: {21} "When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.""

3. Numbers 32:23- ""But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out."

IV. DO RIGHT EVEN WHEN IT MEANS PERSECUTION.

A. Daniel understood this.

1. Daniel 6:7-24

B. Paul understood this.

1. 2 Timothy 1:12- "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."

C. If we live for Christ we will suffer persecution. 

1. Matthew 5:10-12- "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. {12} "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

2. 2 Timothy 3:12- "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

CONCLUSION: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;" (Philippians 2:12)

Copyright 1999 by Grady Scott may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.