Ang akala ng tao lahat ng kilos niya’y wasto, ngunit si Yahweh lang ang nakakasaliksik ng puso. Higit na kalugud-lugod kay Yahweh kaysa mga handog ang mga gawang makatuwiran at makatarungan.

Mga Kawikaan 21:2–3

Marami ang naniniwalang ethics as we know it, is in decline. Mga simpleng good manners tulad ng pagsasabi ng “thank you” sa security guard na pinagbuksan tayo ng pinto, ang pagbabalik ng sobrang sukli, ang pagfi-fill up ng forms in a truthful way, ang pagvi-videoke na hindi lalampas sa hatinggabi, and for those running for office, ang hindi pagbibili ng boto ng mamamayan. Ethics is a daily practice. Ethical principles should guide our daily decisions and actions.

Pero sa panahon ngayon, parang marami na ang nakakalusot sa maling paraan ng pakikisalamuha at pamumuhay. Have you encountered people na hindi marunong mag-sorry, magsabi ng “excuse me,” or even say “thank you” for a favor they’ve been given? Totoong challenging maging noble and virtuous lalo na sa difficult situations. But God has given us His divine power so we can live a life of integrity, honesty, kindness, respect and a whole list of godly values (2 Peter 1:3–9).

God reveals to us, human beings, the basic principles of living and empowers us to live by them, uso man ito o hindi; widely ignored man ito ng circle na kinabibilangan natin o hindi. Kahit pagtawanan tayo ng barkada dahil hindi tayo nagbigay ng bribe sa traffic enforcer na nakahuli sa road violation natin, gagawin pa rin natin ang tama. We do what is right lalong-lalo na kahit walang nakakakita sa atin.

Why? Because God watches over us. He sees not only what we are doing but also what’s in our hearts. And when we are tempted to go against what is right, His Holy Spirit in us empowers us to do the right thing.