I rarely lose anything. Before you say, that’s was arrogant, let me admit I misplace things all the time. Of course as the Law of Murphy would have it as soon as I replace it, I find that which was “lost”. Such is life. It is especially frustrating to misplace something and discover it is either right in front of you or on your person. I have spent what seems to be days of my life looking for things that are well, right where I left them. In a similar way, there is a principle that hit me out of the blue this week. I cannot believe I didn’t make the connection before. Once you read it you may say “duh” but my heart has just been illumined to it; Righteousness is not solely being rightly related to God, but is intimately connected to relationships.
I started reading the book Generous Justice by Tim Keller. I have had it for a year or more and just getting around to it. There is one small section in the opening chapter which caught my attention and drove me to further study on the subject of righteousness. As a disclaimer, I will not espouse a theology that allows any human being to have any role in justification. This is by Sole Fide in Sole Christe (by faith alone by Christ alone). But there seems a connection to righteousness related to sanctification and fellowship with God.
Consider with me the precept of righteous living. According to Keller, Alec Moyter defines righteousness as those “right with God and therefore committed to putting right all other relationships in life”. From Adam’s first breath the story has always been about relationship. This is primarily having a relationship with God the creator. Secondly, Adam was given authority over creation and last, but not least relationship with mankind, beginning with the woman who came from him. So much hangs on righteousness. It is both an attribute and a pursuit. When are we in right relationship with God? Wait for it… when our sins are forgiven. Against whom do we sin? We sin against God primarily, and against our fellow man. Hebrew culture understood this connection. Jesus made this connection, and the teaching of the apostles seem to make this connection as well.
You know that feeling when you just know something is not right in a relationship? For example, the co-worker that seems to work against you, or the friend that snubs you, or the family member that simply won’t speak to you. It’s a nagging feeling. Like a knife in the gut, it hurts. There are times when despite all biblical efforts we cannot fix some relationships. At moments like that we have to entrust them to God and not fear or be anxious. What I am concerned with is what Ken Sande in Peacemaker calls”Peace-faking”. This is the relationship(s) that just get ignored or “swept under the carpet” until it goes away. Sometimes we convince ourselves that a lack of exposure to that person or circumstance will make it go away, the we proclaim we are “over it”. What if God doesn’t want us to get over it? What if His desire is that we become more holy because of it? Maybe the most righteous and holy thing would be to intentionally pursue and endure the struggle by working through any sin for greater holiness. Could that be God’s idea of righteousness?
Every day people are effected by “peace-faking”. Husbands, wives, parents, siblings, co-workers, friends, civic leaders, church members, pastors and missionaries are all effected by unresolved conflict in relationships. What effect is this having on our righteousness? How do we ignore passages like, Matthew 5:23?
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Apparently Jesus is telling us that these relationships have a direct effect on our worship, and if worship is effected, can we truly say we are “righteous”? He spoke it most plainly when he spoke of the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-40.
37Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Maybe the pit we feel in our stomach or the person we find our minds dwelling on is something that God desires us to pursue righteousness with before we can be right with Him. Consider Luke 2:42, “and Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man“. His relationship with man was a part of His life pursuit and He was known for it. Did everybody like Jesus? Of course not. Was Jesus in right relationship as far as it depended on Him? Absolutely. The words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 12 seem appropriate:
17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
The temptation is to think of all the people who should be knocking at the door to confess and make things right with me. In my 40 years there are probably a few that should, but sadly most won’t and that is a job for the Holy Spirit. The real question to ask is, what relationship am I running from or “peace-faking”? How is this effecting my life in Christ, my family, my service to the Lord, my Church family, and the Kingdom of God?
This is modeled through humble leadership. Individuals, families, companies, and churches that fail at the aggressive pursuit of “righteousness” will likely struggle with an emptiness and a ineffectiveness that can only be satiated by confession, repentance, and reconciliation to God and man. It makes me look at Matthew 5:6 differently.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us of all unrighteousness” – 1 John 1:9
This is hard. It takes sacrifice, incredible amounts of time, effort and humility that few, myself included, possess. In doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8), pursuing righteousness and “peacemaking” in all relationships can make all the difference in our workplaces, homes, churches and communities. I said I rarely lose anything, but how easy it is to lose sight of simple truths. The answer may be in the pursuit of the relationships “right under our nose”. The result according to Scripture is a righteousness that satisfies completely, wholly and refreshingly. “Father increase my hunger and thirst for righteousness that I may be satisfied by You.”