Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
Summary: The concept of righteousness is troublesome for many. If we think of the word “righteous” in terms of multiple kinds of righteousness, it makes it easier to see the word in different contexts.
In today’s passage, Solomon draws a distinction between the “righteous” and those who “pursue evil.”
The meaning of “righteous” is something that we Christians need to come to terms with. It means different things to different people, which is okay unless it leads to division in the body. Then it is not okay.
The purists among us fall back on Romans 3:10, “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one…’”
Paul is comparing faith in Jesus to faith in obedience to the Mosaic laws. Under the Old Testament laws, as they came to exist in Jesus’ day, there is no hope of compliance. Paul is completely correct in what he says. However, the Mosaic laws are not the only yardstick of righteousness that we see in the Bible.
In the book of Job, we find a man who is “… blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1: 1) The thing about Job that stands out to me is that he is a man who understands his God. He has a relationship with his Creator and a desire to please God. This sets him apart from those who “pursue evil.”
In the case of Job, the question of righteousness is not one of human perfection. Instead, it is one of perfect intent. Job is human, but as he argues throughout his trial before his friends and eventually before God, he is committed to serving God. In essence, he is committed to being righteous.
When we think of what it means to be ‘righteous,’ I would ask this: Let’s agree with Paul that no one earns their way into heaven by our own righteousness under the law, but that by the power of God’s Spirit we can desire to please God which is what real righteousness is about.
Application: Desire to please God in how you live life both in thought and deed.
Food for Thought: How is ‘pursuing evil’ different than a personal shortcoming?
I think the word pursue is key to this question. According to Strong’s the Hebrew word means to pursue or to chase after. True followers of Jesus may have besetting sins that haunt them, but they don’t pursue or chase after those things except in moments of weakness and temptation. We are called to flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2: 22). We are to cast off sin and that which entangles and run after Jesus (Hebrews 12: 1 – 2). We may stumble at times and need forgiveness, but those who love Jesus get back up and pursue Him.
Rich,
Thank you! Very well said!
I agree with R and your comic strip says it well.
Thanks, Tim.
The comics have been interesting for me. Sometimes they take on a life and a message all their own.
06-18-2022, Proverbs 1f1:19, How is ‘pursuing evil’ different than a personal shortcoming?
The acts of those pursuing evil are subtle, hidden behind a clever facade, as they practice sins against others. Malice, deceit, murder, slander, and dissension, all disguised as good, pours from their hearts.
2 Corinthians 11:14, And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Until the heart is changed by the power of the Spirit, sin will reign as we see pride at the root of their evil. The ungodly believe they are better than anyone else, including God. The pride of their hearts, and disdain for others overflows in how they treat others. Seeing themselves as superior to all others they become, to the discerning, like a child with a face covered in chocolate denying he ate all the candy, and will in fact swear there actually never was any candy. There is no limit on their evil actions and will they will sow discord in their attempt to distract from them.
Believers are imperfect beings serving our Perfect God.
There is not a fully righteous person on this earth. Not one person who continually does good and never sins. Believers do not lead perfect lives, but we do seek to focus on our goal which is to become more Christ like, to avoid being conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may glorify God as we witness’ to this world, the will of God for all mankind.
Philippians 3:12, James 3:2, Romans 12:2
Thank you, Ron.
I really like your statement that “believers are imperfect beings serving our Perfect God.”