7 Good Things That Can Go Terribly Wrong
Why do good intentions go so terribly wrong sometimes?
Our motivation and character has a lot to do with the results we get in life. It is easy to let good things go terribly wrong if we aren’t working from a solid foundation.
It is all about how you apply yourself toward a good cause that makes the difference. There are some critical elements that you need to embrace if you want life to go well.
How Good Things Go Terribly Wrong
The list below contains seven good things. However, without the proper direction, these things really can go terribly wrong.
1. Wealth Without Work
An abundance of money is a good thing. It enables us to provide for our families and give to others. However, when money is gained without work, things often go very wrong. This phenomenon is explored in Fortune’s Fools: Why the Rich Go Broke.
Two examples that come to my mind are lottery winners and people like Paris Hilton. Neither worked for their money and therefore they don’t really appreciate its value and what it affords them. It goes wasted on frivolous things and wild living. Wealth hurts instead of helps in these lives.
2. Pleasure Without Conscience
Pleasure is certainly a good thing. We all want to engage in activities that bring us joy, satisfaction and delight. Pleasure is the fruit of our labor. It is our harvest for a job well done. There is nothing wrong with seeking to enjoy one’s life.
The trouble comes when we pursue pleasure without conscience. Conscience is the inner compass that guides us to conduct ourselves in a moral and ethical way. Pleasure pursued without conscience hurts those around us. It leaves a trail of tears in our wake.
3. Knowledge Without Character
Knowing is good. With knowledge, we can help people. Knowledge of the truth enables us to do the right thing. Knowledge of a skill allows us to work for the benefit of ourselves and others. Knowledge opens the door to new discoveries.
Knowledge that is unguided by strong moral character is often used to hurt people. Secrets are revealed that destroy lives. Facts are distorted and used to mislead. Fear is stirred unnecessarily. Knowledge without character is a dangerous weapon.
4. Science Without Humanity
Scientific discoveries are certainly good things. As an example, they lead to medical breakthroughs that not only save peoples’ lives, but also make living more enjoyable. I firmly believe in the value of good science.
However, science that isn’t guided by benevolence is dangerous. It is misapplied to harm people instead of helping them. For instance, companies have used scientific discoveries to invent things that lead to atrocities against whole populations. This is science gone terribly wrong.
5. Commerce Without Morality
Commerce or business is good. It provides jobs so people can earn a living to provide for their families. It makes products and services widely available so they are accessible to us all. It fuels the research that opens doors to better living.
Unfortunately, we have all seen what happens when commerce is not guided by morality. When people are unscrupulous in business, it can cost people their life savings. A great example of this is the whole Ponzi scheme ran by Bernie Madoff. Another example is the collapse of Enron. Greed and a complete lack of integrity brought ruin. A good dose of morality early on might have saved a lot of people a ton of grief.
6. Worship Without Sacrifice
Worship is the act of paying adoring reverence or regard to something or someone. Properly aimed worship that expresses humility and awe helps us to remain human. It keeps us grounded and guards us from becoming too self-important.
Worship without sacrifice is empty. In my mind, it is the epitome of hypocrisy. It can lead others off the same cliff. Worship by its nature demands that we bow our hearts and give up some of our own desires in honor of that in which we worship.
7. Politics Without Principle
Politics is the art of government especially in a democracy. It is the competition that filters who rises to power and what laws get enacted. This is good. Better solutions result from the debate and give-and-take that politics demands.
Of course, just as with all the other good things mentioned above, politics must be led by moral and ethical principles to produce good results. Corrupt governments and officials hurt their countries. They rob from their constituents and often cause issues for years. A politician must operate on good principles to truly be effective.
The Way to Keep Good Things From Going Wrong
Good things are only beneficial when they are guided by morals, principles, ethics and conscience. In other words, it is a person’s heart that determines the outcome of an endeavor. If your heart is in the right place, then the results usually bear that out.
In what other ways have you seen good things go terribly wrong?
Photo Credit: King of Forwards
