Right or Easy

Often we speak of right or wrong, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense to me to speak of right or easy (a line in the latest Harry Potter movie pushed my thoughts in this direction). It makes sense for the simple reason that the right thing to do usually requires the most effort and diligence. The wrong way, on the other hand, hardly entails the slightest effort. I find this telling to say the least.

Keep the previous in mind as you survey the following biblical examples. Noah would have had a much easier life, and less embarrassing perhaps, had he not followed God in building the ark. If Jeremiah would have just kept himself quiet, he could have avoided all of the rejection and disappointment. John the Baptizer could have enjoyed the good life and lived it up had he not chosen the way of self-mastery and discipline. I suppose that Jesus could have escaped the tortuous event at Calvary had he just given up on his mission. What do you think?

What about those who traveled the easy road? How are they presented in Scripture? Instead of fighting off the desire, Adam and Eve caved to the pressure negatively changing the world forever. The Pharisees should have thought for themselves, but that idea lost to the ease of simply accepting the misguided traditions. Judas could have returned and made things right—faced the music—but taking his life quickly and easily ended his earthly problems. Getting the picture, yet?

Sin and easy have strolled through history hand in hand. The right decision rarely appears as the easy one. Opting for easy has penned the book of excuses. Children today need loving, yet firm and consistent discipline, but that takes effort, work and a constant diligence that wears parents out—it’s easier to let them have their way. A lot of Christians need to do a better job studying and growing as students of God’s word, but the task involves headaches, time, endless searching and confusion—just too much to mess with, right? Or, easy?!

The road less traveled typically poses the greater difficulty—that’s why it’s less traveled. Jesus touched on these thoughts when he spoke “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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Though at first glance the choice to make looks apparent and it seems safe to assume that the difficulty of the effort involved makes little difference in the reward offered. Yet, in fact, the opposite of the expectation usually awaits those who choose their course of life by its appeal. And so we have the paradox of Jesus’ challenge: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it: but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24).

Making choices in relation to their degree of difficulty doesn’t serve the good of the soul. I wouldn’t suggest seeking the easy way out.