04.18.05

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. - Colossians 3:22-25.

In Sydney, Australia, a 15-year-old stole a tram taking it for a 30-minute joyride. During his joyride, he stopped to pick up passengers but it all ended 19 miles later when the electrical current to the tram was cut by police. Endangering the lives of passengers is one of the nine criminal charges faced by the 15-year-old. Police Constable Barry Hills said, “He's a nice lad, he's a good lad ... I think his obsession just got the better of him. It appears ... that this young lad has been traveling around on the trams for some time and has been observing the drivers and observing the operating procedures.” However, Constable Hills believes that the boy could grow up to be a real tram driver some day if he stays on the “straight and narrow.”

It might be enlightening to talk to the boy and find out what his real reasons were for stealing the tram. Perhaps it was not an obsession with trams but instead risky behavior engaged in to impress other young people? An interesting survey has been released by researchers at the University of Maine. In the survey of 100 men and women, it was found, according to New Scientist Magazine, that “women are not impressed by bungee jumping and other risky types of behavior but actually prefer men who take fewer chances. Men thought women would be impressed by pointless gambles, but women in fact preferred cautious men.” Now they tell us!

The Bible gives us some excellent and very well founded advice when it comes to a reason for doing something. In Colossians, we are told, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men….” If you are contemplating some action or activity, it would be well to pause and ask yourself whether that action or activity will bring glory to God. If not, obviously, then the action or activity should not be pursued. If we are planning to do something just on the basis of gaining attention for ourselves from others whether from the opposite sex or just from whomever we can - this can never be construed as being done “as to the Lord”. Because the Lord will not be the One receiving the glory from the action or activity if you are just “showing off”.

So, before you steal the tram or drive your car in excess of the speed limit or whatever it may be - consider who you are trying to glorify. Yourself, or the Lord?