Walk of Life, Day 21- September 2020, Thoughts From The Book of Proverbs
“He who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honour” – Proverbs 21:21
Being righteous and kind does it go hand in hand? Can a man be righteous and kind at the same time? Does my righteousness contribute to the attribute of God? I connect these questions with me as an individual.
I was very kind right from my childhood. Driving me to show empathy was quite a simplest thing for me. Being kind at many times I have failed to be righteous. My words were not honest. My actions, certainly did not please God but it was centered around pleasing men. There was a great conflict going on between me being righteous and kind. As apostle Paul writes in Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” I toiled to be righteous and there arose a saturation point where I started becoming content, with the areas of my life, I can prove my righteousness. I hope there are certainly brothers and sisters reading this having the longing of being righteous and kind.
Let me share the counsel based on the word of the Lord. Bible says, Isaiah 64:6 says “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags”. How much ever we try to be righteous by our own ways they are just filthy rags and that’s why Apostle Paul has testified in Philippians 3: 9 that “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;”
So it is never our righteousness but it is His righteousness that makes us righteous and when we are clothed in God’s righteousness the kindness that follows will really be based on the will of God, The word of God and The way of God.
Jesus Christ was not kind to the people who were involved in commercial business in His house rather He rebuked them and chased them out of His temple in a forceful way but at the same time He exhibited His kindness and compassion to that adulterous woman who was chased by the group of people to be stoned to death.
Our righteousness and our kindness are entirely different from God’s Kindness and Righteousness. If there is anything that makes us to be proud of, let us take this time to humble ourselves before the righteous judge surrendering not only our sins but also our righteousness.
In the same manner the kindness that we show forth should be honest and with real consideration. Bible tells that Job was a righteous man and he also showed kindness to his friends who poured out strong hurting words and yes, he received life and honour.
May our loving Lord fill us with His righteousness and help us to be kind so that we might receive life and honour
