For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous …
Summary: ”Righteousness” is one of those words with multiple meanings. We are not righteous under the law, but we are righteous in God’s eyes when we accept his Son and set our eyes on his will.
“Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.” — Ecclesiastes 7:20
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one….” — Romans 3:10
Is anyone righteous? Do the eyes of the Lord have anyone to look at?
This topic is confusing for some because there are a lot of passages that refer to people as being “righteous.” Yet the same Bible has two references to the proposition that “there is no one on earth who is righteous.”
The original “no one is righteous” quote comes from Ecclesiastes 7:20. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, quotes this passage. Yet there are hundreds of references to righteousness in the Bible. If a human can’t be righteous, why have the word? The answer is that the word, “righteous”, like so many others, can be used in different ways.
As I understand Paul’s letter to the Romans, he chose the passage from Ecclesiastes because Solomon was talking about someone who “never sins.” Outside of Jesus, no man can claim to be perfect before God, and yet there is a kind of righteousness that God can credit man with. It is not the legalistic kind that Paul was referring to. Instead, it describes a desire to serve God and do what is right.
In Genesis 6:9, the Bible says, “Noah was a righteous man.” The verse goes on to explain that Noah was, “… blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”
In Genesis 15:6 we read that “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Do you believe the Lord?
The entire book of Job seems to be an argument about whether a man can be righteous or not. In the first verse, we learn that “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” Later Job describes his way of living. He says, “I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.” (Job 29:14)
Sometimes when people find themselves arguing, the real problem is that they are talking about two different things. The righteousness that Paul talks about in his letter to the Romans is a legal concept that is unattainable by humans. The righteousness that Job argued he had attained was attainable because it rested not on the law, but in the heart.
Proverbs provides some clues to this kind of righteousness:
“Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.” (Proverbs 11:19)
“The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.” (Proverbs 11:23)
“The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.” (Proverbs 12:5)
“The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.” (Proverbs 13:5)
In, “The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats,” Jesus refers to those who care for the hungry and thirsty as “righteous.” (Matthew 25: 31-46) When we accept Jesus into our lives, Paul tells us, “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6: 18)
Pretty cool, huh?
Application: Live as a slave to righteousness. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Food for Thought: What is the danger of focusing only on Solomon’s definition of righteousness? How is our life changed when we accept Jesus’ definition? (Matthew 25: 37-40)
One quote that comes to mind is “if you have the choice to be right or to be kind, then be kind that way you’ll always be right.”
Tim,
You have a very nice way of condensing ideas into an extremely concise package. Well done!
Thank you for the thoughtful devotion.
The idea of being righteous, as you say here, has several applications. The idea of being just in God’s sight or to gain His approval comes by faith in both the OT and NT. In that sense, one commonality could be that it is consistently used as a righteousness that comes to those who are exercising faith in God. I think those who Jesus refers to as righteous in the Matthew passage, are those who have faith in Him and are thus wearing His righteousness. They are the sheep and not the goats. In this sense, Job was righteous, Noah was righteous, Abraham was righteous, etc. I believe we will consistently find those described as righteous as being people of faith in God – or of demonstrating faith in God.
To your question, I suppose on the one hand, that those who only see the righteousness from a legal standpoint could excuse ungodly behavior by claiming the grace of God. Romans 6: 15 – 18 warns us that we can’t go on sinning and acting like everything is ok. On the other end, legalism could also result if we try to be approved by God on our actions alone apart from faith – a self righteousness.
The person of faith will live by faith in God from first to last (Romans 1: 17). Whether it is from a legal standing (Being sinless which we cannot obtain apart from Christ) or it is simply someone who seeks to please God by being upright in his actions – from the heart (a righteous act that is humanly obtainable, like with Job), it is by faith. The righteous have faith in God, the wicked do not. A righteous person can do a wicked act. A wicked person can do a good deed, but not be righteous unless they act by faith in God. I do think we will consistently see faith at work in either definition of being righteous. Why? Because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11: 6). So let us strive to live by faith in Christ.
Rich,
I really appreciate your thoughts on this topic today. I agree with what you have said except for one thing, and there it might be just a matter of mental context. Can a righteous person do a wicked act?
If I look at that question in the context of the “wicked act” being the judgment of another person then yes, I agree. The world is full of people who look at what God would consider a righteous act and call it “wicked” because it does not fit with their world view or the narrative that they are trying to get others to accept and believe.
From God’s point of view, I don’t think it is possible for a righteous person to do a wicked act. If a person has their eyes on God and God’s will foremost in their heart, I think they are acting in a way that God would consider righteous. That said, there is a caveat to this.
There are a lot of people who call themselves Christian who define Christianity not so much by what the Bible says about Jesus, but what their theology says about Christianity. Theology is fundamentally a human construct. The Bible is, in my view, directly from God. So, in the case of someone who defines their Christianity according to a human theology, it is possible that they could do something wicked in God’s eyes that they see as being righteous according to their human construct. I believe that the Pharisees fell into this trap when they plotted to kill Jesus because he refused to submit to their theology. The same thing happens today when one person condemns another because their theology has been violated.
Does any of this make sense?
Rich,
A post script to my earlier comment: If I appear to be contradicting you, please forgive me. That was not my intent. I am seeking clarification, but I am afraid my wording might have been a bit less than righteous, perhaps proving your point! 🙂
To me, focusing on Solomon’s definition would be to live according to the way of the world and as Rich pointed out, continuing to sin and participating in ungodly behavior while using God’s grace as a get-out-of-jail-free-card so to speak. We can’t have it both ways. In saying this, I’m not dismissing what David is saying in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is”
I believe like Job, Noah, and Abraham, David was also a “righteous” person. He sinned, but he had a heart for God and did his best to live a righteous life. He struggled as we do, but he continued to demonstrate an unfailing faith in God, trusting in Him, fearing Him and relying on Him.
As Jeff’s posts continue to point out, it all comes back to our heart – our heart for Jesus.
Darla,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts today! Your reference to David is a great followup to Rich’s comment about the righteous doing a wicked act. Maybe I am over thinking this (I have that problem! 🙂 ) but when David was messing around with Bathsheba, he was doing a wicked thing. Was he still righteous at that point in time? Mmmm… I don’t think so. When we take our eyes off of the Lord, we tend to stray as David did. What restored him to righteousness before God was his confession of sin and repentance. So that is my thought on that. Feel free to straighten me out if I am not making sense. 🙂
About your last comment, I really appreciate your view of the forest! I hadn’t realized that as I was examining each tree, the “forest” of posts I’ve written point to our heart relationship with Jesus. Yet you are right! I appreciate you pointing that out.
What is the danger of focusing only on Solomon’s definition of righteousness?
A person could hold back responding to the call of God, feeling they are unworthy.
Luke 5:8, Acts 13:46, Matthew 8:8, John 13:8
How is our life changed when we accept Jesus’ definition?
One day God placed the word of Jesus, His definition in my heart. Knowing I was a man who had devoted my life to sin, I immediately went to the head of the line. My head was bowed but in my mind, I held my black heart high, and in faith, asked Jesus to honor His word, claimed the righteousness only Jesus can provide. I am well aware of who has cleaned my heart, who does all good in my life and I am honored to serve Him.
Thank you Ron. Your words always seem like a little reflection of my past to my present in many different ways.
Hey Brother Tim,
We have similar backgrounds Tim. We’re well suited for a different ministry than most. You are going to have a ball serving God and I’m so happy you are getting an earlier start than me.
Blessings
Ron
Ron,
Thanks for your words today. I think you have touched on why this topic is so important to me. I have suffered from feeling unworthy so I know what that is like. It is in the arms of Christ that I feel whole again, even knowing that I do not deserve to feel that way. I want each of us to know that righteousness is not only possible, but a very real thing for the one who has put their faith in Jesus and been gifted with the Holy Spirit and the Word.
Love the way you are being used by God Jeff!
Blessings,
Ron
Amen and Amen,..who wouldn’t want to be a slave in doing what’s right,..we certainly need more of it today,..
I am with Ron here on this,..thanks Jeff for being a slave in doing what’s right here,..it draws me closer to God,..through meditation, reading others comments and diving deeper into God’s word, thanks for doing what you do.
Keep smiling in Christ!
John,
Thank you for the encouragement. It is humbling to be able to talk freely among the saints who visit here. Thank you for being part of the conversation.
Amazing how many words if encouragement this blog gets. What’s even better is how humble everyone is. I never would have thought that a servant would be such a great privilege.
Tim,
One of my favorite verses in Scripture is Psalm 84:10 —
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
If, when we find ourselves in heaven, you see me opening the door for you, you will know that I am a very happy man in the house of God.
In Ephesians chapter 5, it speaks of how we our holy because of what Christ has done for us. It is part of the covenant we have with God through Jesus; we get to take on His identity because of his actions.
It’s late…sleep well.
Great comments all. And yes, I do believe a follower of Jesus is considered righteous but can slip and do an evil or wicked act. They may not be righteous in the moment, but they are still people of faith who slipped into a carnal mindset. They sinned. The aforementioned King David is an example. Is adultery evil? How about rape? (Bathsheba has no recourse but to do what the king demanded). How about murder? He did all of those things yet was considered a man after God’s own heart. Was he righteous in the act? Of course not, but that is the point. He belonged to God very clearly before those acts and even during those acts. This is why we need a Savior.
Are the men I am trying to help who are struggling with pornography righteous? If they are sincere followers of Jesus, yes. I would not dare look at them, as while through tears they confess their struggle and shame, and say, you wicked person. Was it a wicked act? Yes. But done by a child of God. Can a child of God struggle with addictions or sinful habits? Yes. Is that a righteous act? No. Are they then no longer righteous people? Has the cross lost its power?
I think you get my point and hopefully it clarifies to some degree.
But I do understand where you are coming from. Just wanted to try to explain my point so that hopefully it makes sense.