Pursue Righteousness and Love

 Proverbs 21:21 

Pursue Righteousness and Love 

"He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor" (NKJV). 

"Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor" (NLT). 

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever" Psalm 23:6 (NKJV). 

Pursue righteousness and love: You will be filled with life, righteousness, and honor. 

Living righteously is another factor that contributes to the prosperity of the wise. 

Notice the treasures in this proverb: life, righteousness, and honor. The wise enjoy both the temporal things that money can buy and the priceless things that make life truly meaningful. These treasures belong to those who (pursue or chase) righteousness and love. To show mercy (chesed) is to show a faithful, steadfast, covenant love. 

But note: while loyalty and sacrificial love in relationships with others add much to life, it is (faithfulness) to God that is in view here. These incomparable riches are reserved for those who (walk faithfully with God), those who (pursue) His righteousness. 

• “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Mt. 5:6). 
• “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33). 
• “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Mic. 6:8). 

The words pursue, follow, chase, and walk indicate an action. 

The verb here suggests action on the individual, presumably desiring righteousness and honor. Alternatively, as with Psalm 23:6, God is the one in pursuit of the individual desiring righteousness and mercy and provides goodness all the days of that individual's life. However, walking faithfully and humbly with God appears as a requirement that God shows us how. 

 

The next time you think you cannot pursue after righteousness and mercy, and that is walking humbly and faithfully before God is overwhelming, remember God first loved us and desires to fulfill His will in our lives. It is God that enables us to pursue Him. God allows us to become righteous in His sight through faith in Him and His Son. The act of mercy is all of God. The action of pursuit is of God and His unfailing love following us all the days of our lives.    

 

1. The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 
2. Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. 
3. Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2012. Proverbs. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 
4. Proverbs 21:21 NLT; Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. (bible.com)