ROMANS 7:19

“For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”

When I was in college, I had this recurring nightmare that I arrived at a class for an exam only to discover that I had studied the wrong information. After hours of cramming, I failed miserably, not from lack of preparation, but from preparing with the wrong information. If you want to do well at anything in life, you have to prepare well and use the right stuff. You will never learn to drive a manual transmission if you only drive automatics, right?

Paul states the obvious in today’s verse. He basically says, “I can’t do this because I am doing that.” He wants to do good but is too busy doing bad. Let me remind you that Paul wrote this letter from Corinth towards the end of his third missionary journey. I wouldn’t call what he had been doing evil or bad works. Just the opposite. He had put his life on the line numerous times. So, why would he say this in today’s verse?

APPLICATION

Our hearts are inherently wicked. Paul uses the Greek word kakós for “evil.” The Topical Lexicon says, “It functions as a broad moral term encompassing wicked character, destructive actions, corrupt motives, and harmful consequences.” Let me just say, people in ministry are not exempt from evil. After all, we are only human like the rest of you. I know some preachers who have their “hit list” of people they wish would get out of their way. That may sound funny, but it is too true.

Paul was writing this letter from a pretty wicked city. Corinth was not known for its wholesome atmosphere. It was full of pagan gods and idol worship. I am sure Paul struggled at times keeping his temper or his attitude in check against such evil. I truly believe today’s verse showing his confession of such things should encourage us to be more open and confessional. We have all been there at one time or another.

Let me encourage you to spend more time practicing the good things and less time the evil things. Spend more time praying than complaining. Invest more in purifying your minds and less time filling it with mindless dribble. Don’t walk into that final evaluation period having spent all your time in the wrong stuff. Walk in fully confident of having spent time with the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is His wisdom we seek, not our own.

Lord, fill me with the desire to please You in all I do and to spend time with You each day.

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