Joyful Moments in Christ

Discernment: Right vs. Almost Right

Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.

Charles Spurgeon

I recently heard this quote from Charles Spurgeon and was quite intrigued. The idea that our choices aren’t between right and wrong, but between right and almost right immediately struck a chord. In some of my ELL work, I have been trying to help some students prepare improve their English enough to attend an English speaking college. As part of that, we have been looking at SAT questions to improve both vocabulary and preciseness. In almost every case, there is a right answer and at least one other almost right answer. When the slightly wrong answer is chosen time and time again, it completely destroys the SAT score.

Life Applications

The same is true in life. Whether people are Christian or not, I firmly believe that most people have a desire to be good and do the right thing, but unfortunately, it is all too easy to have a faulty moral compass and justify choices that are slightly off.

Clarifying reading on the above paragraph: Embracing God’s Moral Compass: Navigating Differing Perspectives with Biblical Wisdom

Here are some examples of some almost right choices:

1. Honesty in the Workplace:
   • Right: Reporting a mistake you made at work promptly.
   • Almost Right: Delaying reporting the mistake to avoid immediate consequences.
2. Relationship Loyalty:
   • Right: Supporting a friend during a tough time, even if you disagree with their choices.
   • Almost Right: Avoiding expressing your true opinions to keep the peace, despite potential harm to your friend.
3. Financial Integrity:
   • Right: Declining an extra sum of money accidentally given to you by a cashier.
   • Almost Right: Pocketing the extra money without informing the cashier of the error.
4. Academic Integrity:
   • Right: Completing your own work and giving credit to others for their ideas.
   • Almost Right: Utilizing someone else’s work without proper attribution.
5. Social Responsibility:
   • Right: Advocating for positive change through peaceful means.
   • Almost Right: Resorting to aggressive tactics in the name of a just cause, potentially causing harm.
6. Environmental Responsibility:
   • Right: Consistently recycling and reducing your carbon footprint.
   • Almost Right: Recycling selectively, ignoring the broader impact of personal choices on the environment.
7. Family Prioritization:
   • Right: Spending quality time with family regularly.
   • Almost Right: Providing material support without investing time and emotional presence.

In most of these situations, opting for the almost right choice might offer a person a way to sidestep discomfort, inconvenience, or gain something material in the short term. However, when we reflect on the Bible and Jesus’ teachings, we should come away with the understand that the focus should be on choosing what aligns with God’s principles, even if it involves facing temporary challenges. By considering biblical wisdom, we can navigate through life’s decisions with a foundation rooted in values that go beyond immediate gains, ultimately leading to lasting fulfillment, spiritual growth, and righteousness.

Expanding on the idea of making choices between what’s right and what’s almost right, let’s explore what happens when we often pick the “almost right” option. These decisions might seem okay at first, giving us a quick benefit or avoiding some trouble. However, over time, they can lead to problems and missed opportunities.

For example, think about being honest at work. If we choose the almost right path—like not admitting a mistake immediately to avoid trouble—it might seem smart at first. But in the long run, it can damage trust, hurt our professional reputation, and create an environment where honesty takes a back seat.

In relationships, going for the almost right choice—keeping our true opinions to ourselves for the sake of peace—might avoid arguments for a while. But it can harm the relationship more than the temporary peace is worth. Real connections thrive on openness and honesty, which we sacrifice when we choose the almost right.

Money situations are another area where the line between right and almost right is thin. Taking extra money without telling a cashier’s mistake might bring in some extra cash, but it hurts our honesty. This almost right choice messes with the trust we build in everyday transactions.

As we face tough choices, schools also become a place where we decide between right and almost right. Choosing the almost right path, like using someone else’s work without giving credit, doesn’t just hurt our academic honesty. It also goes against the main purpose of education—to help us grow by learning.

When we talk about doing good for society or the environment, the almost right might seem quick and easy. But resorting to aggressive methods for a good cause or only recycling when it’s convenient raises doubts about our real commitment to positive change. These almost-right choices add up and lessen the impact we could have on our community or environment.

Reflecting on the Bible

In simple terms, the “almost right” may seem tempting because it provides quick benefits, but it often leads to bigger problems in the long run. It’s essential to recognize that facing life’s challenges means consistently choosing what aligns with God’s teachings and leads to righteousness. In the Bible, Jesus emphasized the importance of truth, honesty, and loving others. By following these principles, we can navigate our choices with a foundation rooted in biblical wisdom. Additionally, seeking guidance through prayer and reflecting on the teachings of Jesus can help us make choices that align with what is truly right in God’s eyes.

Reflect on some of these Bible verses and their relationship to Charles Spurgeon’s quote:

1. Matthew 6:33 (ESV):
   • “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
2. Proverbs 16:8 (ESV):
   • “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.”
3. Philippians 4:13 (ESV):
   • “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
4. Colossians 3:23 (ESV):
   • “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
5. Psalm 25:4-5 (ESV):
   • “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”
6. James 4:17 (ESV):
   • “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Respond

As you consider the theme of discernment, are there any Bible verses or reflective thoughts that come to mind? If so, add a comment at the end of this post!

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English Standard Version (ESV): Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.