Righteousness often gets a bad rap. When we try to live a righteous life, people may say, “You are so self-righteous” when we don’t follow in a lifestyle that does not glorify God. So what do you do when someone says that to you? Do you give in? Do you stand firm in your knowledge of what is right? Standing for what is right often makes us unpopular. What exactly is righteousness? Isn’t it all relative anyhow? And what does living a righteous life get us? Is it just the “right” thing to do? Delve into the world of righteousness, what it is and why we should work hard at being righteous, no matter what the world around us says.
What is Righteousness?
Being righteous doesn’t mean you have to always be right. It also doesn’t mean that you have to be a somber and boring person, which is what non-Christians often associate with a righteous person. Where does righteousness come from? Is it relative according to the laws of whatever country we are in at a given time? Believe it or not, righteousness comes from God, whether a person is a Believer or a non-Believer. Look at what Paul wrote about the source of righteousness to the Philippians: “…I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith (Philippians 3:8 & 9).”
Paul says his righteousness doesn’t come from the law, but rather from faith in Christ. Our righteousness is given to us by God, based on faith in Him. Abraham/Abram was the founding father of the Jewish nation. He was called by God to be its founder. Because Abram believed in God and what God told him, it was considered righteousness. Abram believed the LORD, and He [God] credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6) So we see that believing in God, having faith in Him is the beginning of righteousness.
In Ezekiel 18, the actions of a righteous person are defined. Ezekiel says a righteous person is just, doesn’t worship anyone else but God, respects his neighbor, doesn’t oppress anyone, pays back his loans, doesn’t steal, feeds the hungry and provides for the poor. A righteous person doesn’t lend to make a profit, doesn’t do wrong, judges fairly and studies God’s ways and tries to live by them. Being a righteous person takes action, it basically comes down to Jesus’ command to love our fellow man. When asked what the greatest commandment or law of God is, Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).” The righteous person lives his/her life by God’s love, giving God the glory through his/her life.
Results of Living a Righteous Life
Sometimes non-Believers think that living a righteous life is a drag. What a lie sowed by Satan! In reality, living a righteous life gives you power! “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16b).” When we are righteous, our prayers are answered by God because we know what God’s will is for our lives, and we are praying in His will. How ironic. In the world’s view, power only comes through money and status, but that kind of power is miniscule compared to being plugged into the power of the God of the Universe.
There are also other benefits to living a righteous life:
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor (Proverbs 20:20).
The fruit of … righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever (Isaiah 32:17).
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:31-34).
These are just a few of the advantages to living a righteous life for an individual. Who doesn’t want to have prosperity, honor, peace, confidence and all their needs met? God promises these to all of us who work to live a righteous life in Him. What’s more, if the citizens of a country try to live a righteous life, the whole nation will benefit. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people (Proverbs 14:34).”
It’s time us Christians start to exalt our righteousness and glorify God. This does not mean we brag about doing good, in fact, we are supposed to perform our good deeds in secret. “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ‘So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:1-4).’” Let’s let our actions speak for themselves and know that because of our Godly righteousness, we will have power that is so beyond what the world knows of power – spiritual power is the ultimate power.
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