Are You a “Yes, Butter?”

“THEREFORE, TO HIM WHO KNOWS TO DO GOOD
AND DOES NOT DO IT, TO HIM IT IS SIN.” (JAMES 4:17)

Are you a person who upon hearing a statement often agrees with it, but responds, “Yes, but….”? If so, you are a yes “But ‘er.” If so, read once more the above text. “Yes, but ‘er”is the expression of a hesitant person.

By agreeing with a statement and offering an excuse for not doing it, you are conflicting yourself. If you agree that it is right, offering an excuse for not complying with it does not make the ‘er a legitimate reason for not doing it. “Yes, but… people” are defeatist. Their favorite sport is introducing obstacles. They are good at making up excuses, while concealing their own thoughts.

Excuses for not doing what is right are:

“You just don’t understand.” 

“Someone told me I didn’t have to.”

“That is just too difficult.”

“You don’t always do it.”

“I didn’t think it was important.”

There is never a legitimate excuse for not doing what is right. If you do the right thing and things go wrong, be sure you don’t go with them.

William Penn said, “Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.”

Other sage wisdom is “Never do wrong in order to be able to do right.” Doing a bad thing for a good end just sullies the good.

Doing the right thing even when no one is looking is easy if you remember that you are not in this life alone and that your task is to please God… not people.

You know you have done the right thing when you have peace about doing it.

Don’t be afraid to do the right thing if you value your integrity, but if you do, be prepared to take abuse from those who have no integrity.

We often have the choice between saying “yes, but” or “yes and” it’s your choice.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
(Colossians 3:17)