Choose the next right thing
COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT, Features, Lifestyles, LIFESTYLES -- FEATURE SPOT, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Staff Reports Published 
4:48 pm Thursday, October 21, 2021

Choose the next right thing

FRANKLIN LIVING—

What happens next after you make a bad decision? It’s an important question because sometimes instead of following a bad decision with a good one, we fall into the trap of piling one bad decision on top of another.

It happens in sports all the time. On the basketball court, it could be not blocking out and then going over your opponent’s back and committing a foul, rather than conceding the rebound. On the baseball field, it could be mishandling a groundball and then trying to make an impossible throw to first. Suddenly, one error has turned into two.

Unfortunately, Christians sometimes fall into the trap of making one bad decision after another, and sometimes those bad decisions are sinful.

Most Bible students are familiar with the story of David and Bathsheba recorded in 2 Samuel 11-12. King David makes a string of horrible decisions resulting in lust, adultery, deception and finally murder.

David could have halted the downward spiral of sin had he paused after any one of his bad decisions, searched for and then chosen the next right thing or the next best action.

Unfortunately, David’s mirror was broken. He couldn’t see his own sin, and it cost him dearly. David finally achieved clarity related to his own actions when God’s prophet, Nathan, arrived and shared a parable with David.

What might the next right thing look like for us today?

When I’m in a strained relationship, the next right thing or next best action might be biting my tongue and saying nothing. It might be listening, which goes hand in hand with biting my tongue. It might be walking away until some of the negative emotion subsides. It might be remembering how much I really love this person. It might be forgiving in a genuine way. In some cases, it might even mean seeking some professional help.

No matter the situation or the temptation, the key is to pause and ask the question, “What is the next right thing or the next best action I can take?”

It is also important to remember that God’s Word, when opened and applied, still fixes broken mirrors today. That’s why James instructed his hearers to always be looking intently at the perfect law of liberty and abiding by it (James 1:25). God’s word will confront our pride, arrogance, anger and selfishness. Obedience to the perfect law of liberty will help us more consistently choose the next right thing and the next best action.

What next right thing will you choose to do today?

__________________________________________

Philip Goad is the minister at North Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville. He is married to Marla, and they have a daughter, Kayla Thorne, who is married to Josh. They also have a son, Preston, and one grandchild, Greyson Thorne.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025