I saw a 15-year-old the other day who informed me virtue is NOT it’s own reward. Actually, that’s not quite how he phrased it. What he really said was, “Dude, I’ve been doing everything I’m supposed to do and nothing’s changed”.
Nothing’s changed? His grades are better, he’s not spending half his day in the principle’s office, he’s no longer grounded, and his parents are saying how proud of him they are.
“Nothing’s changed” was code for, ‘I still can’t do whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it’.
I resisted the temptation to say to him, “Dude, I’m 45-years-old and I still can’t do whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it.” Which got me to wondering, what would I do if there were no constraints?
I would eat what I wanted, when I wanted, and I would never, ever exercise. I’m not sure it’s possible to live off only Dr. Pepper and Doritos, but I would give it a try.
I would be riding a motorcycle, something I haven’t done since college. I can’t blame my wife for that; I got run off the road by someone who either wasn’t paying attention or just didn’t like motorcycles. My body healed, the bike didn’t. One thing led to another and I never replaced the bike.
I would take all the money I tithe and put toward retirement and spend it on traveling. Preferably somewhere warm. With great fishing.
I would still work. I like what I do. But the hours wouldn’t be nearly as long. I’m thinking I would keep the same hours as my daughter’s school (8:00am to 3:00pm, all major holidays off and 10 weeks vacation in the summer).
But, I can’t do what I want to do, whenever I want to do it. I am constrained by many things. Time, money, love for my wife, conviction and obedience just to list a few.
The moral structure of many 15-year-olds is that Good = impulsively giving in to immediate gratification and Bad = that which constrains me. (It’s probably the moral structure of many adults, also.)
Virtue really can be it’s own reward. Doing the right thing just because it’s the right thing keeps me healthy, out of debt, and obedient to God’s Word, and it will allow my young friend to move on to the 10th grade, get a driver’s license, and someday be an independent adult. Don’t knock constraint as a motivation: impulsively self destructing just because I can doesn’t really prove a thing.
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