Righteousness

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” - Proverbs 21:21

This passage really got me to thinking.  Whoever pursues righteousness…will find…righteousness.

Huh?

Pursue it and find it.

How does one pursue it?  Through virtue?  Through academia? Through philosophy? Through philanthropy? Through kindness (which the passage seems to link with righteousness)? Through politics? Through athletics (with the winter Olympics in mind)?  How does one pursue righteousness?

Is there some path; is there some track we can follow in this pursuit?  No doubt countless millions before me have pondered this question and dashed off in the pursuit.  And while there is nothing inherently wrong with virtue or academia or philosophy or philanthropy or kindness or athletics or even politics, none of these things will lead one to true righteousness.

The apostle Paul wrestled long and hard on this issue.  And this is what he discovered. “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (visit Romans 3:21,22)

Let there be no doubt – Paul would have been one who dabbled in all the forms of righteousness seeking only to eventually find that they were ‘as rubbish.’ (visit Philippians 3:7)

Any righteousness we seek will only be found in Jesus Christ. He went to the cross so we could truly seek and find it.  The other pursuits? Well, they are fine, even the politics.

But pursue Christ. And you will find “life, righteousness, and honor.”

What are you pursuing this day?