by Charles North

Over the past few weeks the high school and middle school Wednesday night class has been studying Christian ethics in the context of the Good Samaritan parable. We boiled down Christian conduct to eight essentials.

(1) Do no harm. If you can't help or do good, at least don't hurt anyone.

(2) Do good. Whenever possible, if you have the means and ability, offer aid and assistance to others, even if it costs or hurts you.

(3) Tell the truth. "The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful" (Proverbs 12:22, NASB).

(4) Keep your promises. Let your yes be yes, and your no, no (Matthew 5:37). Build up a reputation for honesty and integrity. Be reliable and dependable. Don't let people down or go back on your word.

(5) Respect other people's freedom. Don't interfere and play big brother with people unnecessarily. It's a basic human dignity to be able to decide things for yourself.

(6) Pratice justice and fairness. Ethical people are just and fair because this pleases God. Treat people well even if they can do nothing to benefit you. "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern" (Proverbs 29:7).

(7) Make reparations for wrong. This is the Zaccheus principle (see Luke 19:1-10). In the Old Testament, if you stole something, you had to repay what you took -- a simple "I'm sorry" was not enough.

(8) Show gratitude. Say "please" and "thank you." Recognize that everything good comes from God. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

We live good lives to honor God for everything He has done for us. A lot is riding on our behavior as Christians.

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us."

Reproduced from the November 10, 2002, issue of the Baker Heights Bulletin, Abilene, Texas.

by Randal Matheny

The year draws to a close. At least one thing we may be able to finish. 2002!

Reminds me of an online personal essay journal whose editor asked the question of writers: Which are harder, beginnings or endings?

I wrote her an almost-four-line response:

 HARDER

 Why, I'm surprised that you would even ask
 Which is, by far, the harder writing task:
 To start or end. For all that ply this craft
 Agree that, of the two,

One of my great difficulties is finishing all the wonderful projects I start. Perhaps we need to revise that old saw that says, "Nice people finish last," and make it read:

 Nice people finish.

All this reminds us of a line from Solomon's Ecclesiastes, where he got a few things right, including this idea:

 The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
 Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of
   spirit. (7:8, NASB)

Read all the quotes circulating the Internet, and you'll find most people are more interested in the ride than the destination. I suspect that's another diabolical plot to make people forget that eternity is around the corner.

Sure, I want to enjoy each day as it comes, but my days are numbered, so I want to look forward to One Eternal Day. One complete, unending joy.

Well, that's the end of my faith I'm looking for, as 1 Peter 1.9 says, the result, the outcome, which he explains as "the salvation of souls." Mine. And, I hope, yours, too.