Will is defined in the dictionary as the ‘desire or wish or the determination’ of a person to do something. We can see that in this simple explanation, we can easily grasp the meaning of will. However in Ethics, the word ‘will’ signifies something differ than those that are given in the dictionary.
Will is defined in ethics as the man’s faculty which seeks the good. According to the book, it is perfected by the quest of what is good. Therefore, it is not enough to just do what we want to do. We should look first for the glorification of God in order to satisfy this will.
Usually, I associate this with the freedom or the free will of human to choose on what they want to do. I believe that God gave human the knowledge to know what is wrong or what is right so we can exercise this free will. But when He gave us the free will to choose, He expects us to choose what is right. That’s why will is the eternal happiness with God.
Sometimes people choose to do bad things. They think that because they have the power to choose then they can do whatever they want. But they don’t know that in doing so, a certain punishment will be given to them. And if they choose to do the right thing, they will be rewarded. At first, I thought that this doesn’t make any sense to me. Why would God give us the chance to choose on what to do but will punish us if we did not choose to do His will? That’s not free will right? When our parents lets us choose which college we would want to go to, now that’s free will. But what God gave us is the chance to choose what is right despite of all the tempting things that surround us in this world. He did not give us the right to do whatever we want but He gave us the chance to do what is right and pure in His sight.
We can choose to help our neighbor mourning over their loss. We can help ease other people’s lives. We can choose to be a blessing to