Righteousness
May 9th, 2008 by Kyle
We were discussing the beattitudes on Wednesday night bible study and as I was reading a commentary as a study before the actual class, I read something about righteousness that really changed my view on my own righteousness.
We often hear people talk about being a good person and doing what’s right and sometimes we have this feeling that what’s right to them isn’t entirely right at all. Other times (and a little more often than I would like to admit) I think I’m doing the “right” thing and feel a little weird about it.
In Greek, Dikaiosune (the word translated into righteousness) takes its roots from the word dikaios which implies righteousness in an act of conforming to the morality of God. I always had such a legalistic view of righteousness in the sense of I have to do what’s right because I just have to. Dikaiosune seems to have a bit wider implications, rather than simply doing what’s right actually doing what’s right because you love God. So, in a sense, Jesus seems to be telling us that those who hunger and thirst after this righteousness will be fulfilled.
He also tells us that those of us who are persecuted because of this sense of righteousness because their’s is the kingdom, this surely makes a connection between Revelation 5:10 where we are told that “they” have been made a kings and priests and Revelation 14:12 as those who have kept the commandments of God. Why? Because of their love for God, not out of a legalism and not out of obligation, but because they want to from their love of God.
Do I love God so much that I wish to obey his commands? Do I want to conform to the will of God in my own life? Today, let us allow the love of God and our love to God draw us into a closer relationship to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and conforming to the will of God.
That is why Jesus spoke of people who “did the right things” but not with the right heart. They would be the ones who did mighty works and cast out demons, and yet Jesus would say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” It’s all about having a love relationship with God.
It also makes us think about what it means to love God. Love is not some abstract emotion. Many people claim to love God but there is no action to back up that claim. Doing the right thing out of love (because we love God and want to show Him) makes the sacrifice of the action easier (for me at least). When trying to be righteous because i’m supposed to (in a legalist sense) I tend to fail. I want to love God, therefore I obey Him, and if I hunger and thrist after this, then I’ll be rewarded. This view of righteousness is obviously what God wants. He wants our hearts.
Amen, sister.