Pursuing Righteousness

"Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor" (Prov. 21:21, ESV).

This verse reminds us that we become what we pursue. If we are seeking righteousness and kindness we will find a life full of righteousness and honor. Granted, we may not find it the easiest life we could have had. Frankly, life in the pursuit of righteousness is often met with fierce opposition.

When we think of "righteousness" we need to keep in mind all that the Scriptures have to say about it. Righteousness has an element of morality in it, but it also has an element of faithfulness in it as well. Human righteousness is tainted by our sin nature, so that we do not possess a true morality. We may be moral people who try to do the right things, but we continually fail because we continue to sin. Thus, we need a greater righteousness than what we possess, and we find that righteousness by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in Jesus, his righteousness is placed on us, just as our sin was placed on him. We become righteous through our communion with Christ.

In order to fulfill this proverb, we must pursue relationship with Christ. If we are ever to live a life marked by righteousness and kindness, we will have to be transformed at our core. That transformation can only come by relying on Christ, and receiving a new nature from above. Thus, a life that pursues righteousness is a life that pursues Christ, and he promises that welcome awaits all who come to him.

So when we pursue Christ we find life, righteousness, and honor. As we walk humbly with the Lord, he extends honor to us. Not because he has to, but out of his gracious nature. Remember Job. The Lord said of Job, "there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" (see Job 1:8). In this statement, the Lord honors Job, and some day others who have served faithfully will be honored, too. We labor after righteousness so that we might hear the, "Well done! My good and faithful servant. Enter into your Master's rest." Remember the prize for which you run, and do not give up hope, but press forward.