It would be wonderful if ethical decisions boiled down to the choice between bad and good. That would make things easy. But I've found that things are a bit more complicated than that. In fact, I think that there are more than two categories involved. There are four:
1. Actions that are bad
2. Actions that are neutral
3. Actions that are better
4. Actions that are best
It's hard to know what items to put in each category, and sometimes the hardest choice is between better and best.
The Bible lifts up love expressed selflessly to God and others as the sole inhabiter of the best category. That's because it is permanent, mature, and clear.
1. Things like spiritual gifts, talents, work, family, etc. may fall into the better category. They are admirable and needed and better, but not the best. That's because these things eventually pass away. Prophecy will cease. Tongues will be silenced. Knowledge will pass away. But love remains.
2. A preoccupation with your talents and gifts is ultimately childish. But love is mature.
3. A focus on one's abilities is to see in a mirror dimly. To love is to see with clear vision.
So we need to make love the ultimate goal of our lives and not be so preoccupied with things that are very good, but not the best. We need to put the big rocks in first, and let the littler rocks fill in around them.
Have you made it a life goal to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are you joyfully and sacrificially loving others as you love yourself? If so, you are choosing wisely and are involved with the best things.
Related passages: 1 John 3.2, Philippians 3.12-13, 2 John 1.6, 2 Peter 1.5-8.
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