Press the arrow to listen to Jared Anderson’s song “All I Want”.
Scripture
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. (Psalm 112:2-7, New King James Version)
Observation
There is something off-putting about the word “righteous.” Just the sound of it is holier-than-thou. But nestled in Psalm 112, the word “righteous” is a comforting word to anyone in need. Righteousness is teamed up with smiling-words like “gracious”, “compassion”, and “generosity.”
Righteousness is not a lemon-sucking word. The real kind of righteousness is sweetness. It touches the things that matter most to God. He delights in graciousness, because he is a God of grace. He delights when we show undeserved kindness to others. Compassion is why he sent Jesus and he delights when we too choose to get involved in the problem and not just to feel about it. Generosity is seen in everything God touches from an apple tree to a samon spawn. He wants us to give like he does.
Application
Righteousness should be the thing that people desire most from us. What does my righteousness feel like to others? Does it feel all polyester and starched collar? If it does, then my righteousness is not God’s kind. But when it feel as comforting as a down-filled pillow and a velour snuggle blanket, then my righteousness begins to reflect God’s righteousness. Gracious, compassionate, and generous. Let those be adjectives used to describe some of my reactions in life.
Prayer
Father, please soften the edges of my discipleship. I’m often well intentioned, but I sometimes confuse being “right” with “righteousness.” Make me ever wise to the ways that are right and let your nature bleed out through everything that I do. Amen.
