Many years ago, I was faced with an ethical dilemma. The billing company with which our pathology group was contracted alerted us that there were some minor discrepancies in the way we were billing for certain services. If we were to accept their conclusions, it would mean a loss of revenue on some of these charges. When I discussed this issue with my physician partners, they were as surprised as I initially was and suggested that we discontinue our contracted billing services, especially when we queried other pathology groups and discovered they were billing for services the same way we were. However, upon further investigation and consulting our attorneys, we had to reluctantly agree that the new billing company may be correct in their assessment. After a weekend of examining all possibilities, I, along with my partners, agreed to abide by the billing company’s evaluations. Although we considered continuing the questionable billing practice, something that all other pathology groups did, we agreed to abide by the current legal definitions of the billing codes, even if we disagreed with the interpretation.
We are all faced with temptations in life. For many years, I believed that these many temptations were a certain sign of my sinful nature. However, it is only when I act upon them and disobey God do they become sins. Even Jesus Christ was faced with temptations. Yet, He is the only person who ever lived on this earth that never sinned, regardless of the severity or frequency of the temptations.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (KJ21)
The temptation is not a sin. Giving in to the temptation is a sin. Some temptations can clearly lead to very bad and sinful outcomes if acted upon. Anger toward another person may foment hate and lead to an act of aggression, including murder. Other temptations do not seem egregiously bad. It was easy to dismiss this billing issue, especially if other pathology groups were also doing it, but we could not overlook our own consciences nor the legal consequences.
The only hope we have in this life is to acknowledge that we are powerless to always withstand these temptations by our own efforts. We need a supernatural intervention. We need a Savior, one who has faced all of these temptations but never succumbed to them.
We need Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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