Proverbs 21:21 “He who pursues righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.”
The term “Righteousness”, has often been associated with godliness, holiness, or goodness. If someone does something that is considered ‘righteous’ it is considered morally right or justifiable. If someone is found to be righteous they are found to be free of guilt or sin. With so many attributes associated with this quality it seems worthy to pursue. Unfortunately, many people just recognize it as a good attribute to have and then try to figure out how to strive after it.
The Word of God not only encourages following after righteousness but strongly emphasizes acquiring this attribute since it carries such blessing. It seems important for us to have a better understanding of how to walk in righteousness if we want to live as true believers.
My personal journey in understanding what it means to walk faithfully before God was influenced by teachers through the years. It wasn’t until I experienced the effects of righteousness did I begin to understand the magnitude of its importance.
When examining the application of this godly trait I’ve witnessed several aspects worth pursuing.
- The effects of righteousness.
- The works of righteousness.
- The fruit of righteousness.
Effects of Righteousness
Isaiah 32:17 “The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”
Righteousness is a quality that lasts forever.
There are many qualities of life that don’t endure, like happiness or sadness. The world can mimic certain qualities that are biblically founded but true righteousness is directly associated with God. In the 1970’s when someone thought something was ‘right on’, they would exclaim “righteous!”, there seems to be no end for the ways the world tries to muddy the waters of understanding.
While Jesus emphasized the importance of pursuing righteousness in His sermon on the mount, He also made it very clear that it should be our priority over seeking things in life.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
God established the standard of what righteousness entails, it is up to us to follow it.
God’s Standard
Many false religions think they can obtain a righteous position by following a prescribed order of conduct, but they find the pursuit has no end.
Romans 3:10 “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one”
The reality for these false teachers is that their efforts will one day be exposed.
For those who desire to know God, righteousness becomes the starting point on the journey.
The encouragement to pursue righteousness means to understand where it is found.
When someone accepts the proof that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, righteousness is imparted.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
{A basic understanding by American-Webster says that righteousness is defined by “acting in accord with divine or moral law”(Deut.6:25), Christianity publications say that it is an “attribute that belongs to God, the lawgiver”. This implies the perfection or holiness of God’s nature.}
These definitions can be confusing. On the one hand righteousness implies that acting according to God’s law is the path while another implies that it is given by God. Is this a contradiction?
No! On the one hand righteousness is defined by the character of God while the pursuit of God reveals His righteousness in His people.
The best place to start is by pursuing God, if you draw near to God He will draw near to you.
Works of Righteousness
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Jesus encourages His people to not only seek after righteousness by drawing near to God.
Jesus then gives a taste of what will happen when people receive righteousness. The world seeks for answers to life and happiness but none can be found. Jesus gives a simple solution and encourages all to come.
Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
The pursuit of this great endeavor has been encouraged since the beginning of time and it is evident in those who have been redeemed.
Proverbs 21:3 “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Since God greatly values righteousness, we should consider its great value. Once a person has decided to pursue it, the next step is to understand how to walk in it.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Godly perfection is righteousness imparted, it is given upon salvation.
Philippians 3:9 “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”
The perfection that Jesus demonstrated in life and death demonstrated perfect righteousness by the standard of the law. This righteousness that He attained made it possible for Him to bear sin upon the cross. He then imparts His righteousness to those who trust and believe Him.
By following Jesus’ perfection He bestows to His people eternal life. That is true mercy and grace.
1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
We are implored to pursue righteousness in life because it reflects God’s character, when we live righteously we return love back to God.
To follow Jesus is to accept His gift of grace and this is where righteousness begins. We show Him love by following His moral law as Jesus exemplified in life.
Jesus described the Moral law as being the greatest command of God and summarized it beautifully.
Mark 12:28-31 “Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
The 10 commandments, i.e. the “Moral law”, reflects a heart that loves God and loves others, it is at the very core of christendom.
Loving God looks like loving others.
Jesus reflected on this concept extensively in Matthew 25 and then summarized it in verse 40 “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Fruit of Righteousness
A truly righteous person reacts differently because God has changed their heart.
When a righteous man falls, he may fall seven times and still get back up, in Psalm 24:16 That man or woman may fail but still return because God gives them the strength. When considering the wicked man or woman who does not know God, when they fall they are brought down by sin because they are not under grace.
A righteous person demonstrates a steadfast spirit.
Wouldn’t you think that if a person who was considered ‘righteous’, fell seven times they would no longer be deemed righteous?
The difference is the path they are pursuing. If I am on the path of righteousness, I am loving God and others as I go. When I fall I am pursuing my own interests and agenda.
If we examine ourselves as to whether we are really pursuing God or just living a lie we can measure ourselves by His standard of righteousness.
False religion is characterized by false works, all who practice them will stand in judgement one day. Those who practice true righteousness are taking God’s standard and living by it, this produces a peace and joy the world has never known.
If you know and trust in Christ you can be assured you will be found righteous before Him. If you want to know how to walk in His love, walk in righteousness.
U.T. 