The Sin of Doing Nothing

 A man lay near death on the side of the road. When two religious leaders came on the scene, they chose not to get involved and walked on the other side. In their minds, they believed that if they helped this man, they might become defiled under their religious law.

These two religious leaders weren’t bad men. They weren’t thieves or robbers. They weren’t murderers or adulterers. In fact, they were considered the most righteous men of their day. Yet in this one action, they failed to love God.

What they didn’t realize was that by trying to stay ritually clean, they sinned. They committed the sin of doing nothing, or the sin of omission.

The sin of omission is failing to do something we know we ought to do. The Apostle James gives us the perfect definition. “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

The story is the parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:30-37.

Jesus said this Samaritan fulfilled the greatest commandment by keeping the second commandment, that is, loving his neighbor as himself, even though his neighbor, this Jewish man who was close to death, didn’t exactly love or respect his kind.

My dad would often see me sitting and doing nothing. Knowing there were things still needing to get done, he would say, “Get up and do something.” I knew what I was supposed to do, and I knew there were things to do, but since nobody told me, I thought I was safe. But I was wrong.

We know what we should be or ought to be doing. So, let’s do what we know is right.

Heavenly Father,

You have shown me what is good, and Your Word makes it plain: to know the right thing and yet withhold my hand is sin. Soften my heart today. Give me eyes that see the need, a will that moves without delay, and courage to do the good You place before me—whether in a quiet word, a helping hand, or a simple act of faithfulness.

Forgive me for the times I have known and still stood still. By Your Spirit, let me walk in obedience, not tomorrow, but now. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.