Taking it deeper

1. Read Romans 3:10-12. God is looking at the world, examining all the ways mankind uses his free will. What does God conclude? What does this teach us about the natural way mankind uses his free will?

Answer - He concludes that no one ever does anything good. For no one, by nature, "understands" or "seeks God." This demonstrates that mankind, by nature, never exercises his free will in a way that pleases God. He only chooses between different types of sin.

2. In this article, we saw that decisions that look good to the world can be sinful if one's motivation is selfish. The following are some activities that appear to be wonderful. With each activity, list a motivation that would demonstrate selfishness, and therefore make the entire activity tainted by sin. Then list one motivation that would be God-pleasing.

Answers will vary, but here are some examples.

a. Being kind and faithful to your spouse. It would be selfish and sinful if the only reason I was kind to my spouse was so that I might receive kindness in return. I'm seeking my happiness more than theirs. Instead, I should treat my spouse with kindness and faithfulness because she is a child of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ. God gave her to me that I might love her in his stead.

b. Going to church. If I go to church because I think that is what gets me into heaven, or that my presence somehow not obligates God to bless me, my church attendance is pure evil and offensive to God. If I go to church because I know that there God comes to me in Word and Sacrament to refresh my sin-sick soul, and because I want to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ through songs and hymns, then God smiles at my presence in his home.

c. Being an honest employee. If I am motivated by the fear that if I'm caught doing something shady or unethical, I'll lose my job, my motivation is self-serving. If I am motivated by the fact that I understand God gave me my job, and that I honor him by giving my employer my best efforts, my work is truly "good" in God's eyes.