James 4:17
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

When I say the word “sin,” what comes to mind? While I am sure our answers vary greatly, I am fairly certain there is one sin many of us would fail to name. There is one sin in particular that most of us are likely to commit, but unlikely to even recognize. What is this sin? Not lying, cheating, or stealing, but rather, the sin of omission – the sin of knowing what we ought to do, but not doing it.

My family and I were on a bike ride on a chilly night a few weeks ago when my 6 year old called out to my husband and asked if we could stop so he could put his jacket in the bike trailer. Given the dropping temps and brisk wind, my husband told him “no.” Ignoring his dad’s response, my son incessantly kept asking to take off his jacket. After several rounds of going back and forth, my husband stopped and said, “Luke, is it that you have not heard my answer, or have you heard it, but you just don’t like it?”

I think often times we do the exact same thing with God. He provides us with direction or guidance, but we don’t like what He has revealed to us. Rather than jumping into action, we pretend we didn’t hear Him. We know what we ought to do, but instead, we do nothing. We somehow kid ourselves into thinking if we simply ignore God, or even go the righteous route and continue to ask Him for wisdom, we will get a different answer.

James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Ignoring God’s guidance and directives is a sin – plain and simple. Additionally, when we fail to follow God’s leading, we are the ones who ultimately miss out.

Further, James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Consider the first part of the verse though – if any of you lacks wisdom. Notice the prerequisite. Before we ask God for wisdom we need to ensure we lack it; we need to be certain He has not already provided instruction, but we are just continuing to ask in order to buy time.

Today, if God is prompting you to do that ‘right thing,’ listen, follow, obey. Don’t ignore God and pretend as though He never communicated.

What has God provided you direction on, but you have been putting off? Don’t wait another minute. Acknowledge God’s guidance and act – now.

May we never miss the opportunity to accomplish all God has in store for us because we fail to do as He asks.

Don’t commit the sin of omission. Choose to do what you know is right.