He who is steadfast in righteousness [will attain] to life,
And he who pursues evil [will bring about] his own death.
Message: A Godly lifestyle
Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.
What the Lord is Saying: The previous verse looked similar contrasting the wicked with the one pursuing righteousness and this verse takes on a similar idea. However, the person described here is not momentary in their pursuit of righteousness but steadfast or loyal or unwavering. This is a person with a track record of righteousness. The contrast is one that pursues evil. These two descriptions are contrasting not momentary decisions but multiple decisions over a period of time - with one person consistently righteous and the other pursuing evil.
The righteous person attains life and life is what everyone is seeking - peace, prosperity, and spiritual fulfillment. It is doing things well. One of my favorite verses is I Timothy 4:8 which says, "bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." Living for godliness, for righteousness is not only producing present day quality of life but a future life as well. That I might do things always that point in this direction. I want every moment of the day to go in this direction.
It seems life is a matter of choosing righteousness and deciding what is really righteousness. It is about being unself and looking out for other's interests. Philippians 2:4, "do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Pleasing myself is the easy part of life and what I gravitate towards always. I need to be focused on others and meeting their needs.
In contrast, pursuing evil leads to death. And specifically my own death. Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death." Working sin results in death. Am I pursuing Godly ways in my life - reading His word, fellowshipping with others, praying, sharing the message of the Gospel. Death is separation from God. Life is being with God for all eternity, death is being away from God for all eternity.
I notice a clear effort in business these days to be more in pursuit of serving others and being pleasant and attending to their needs and this is what the Christian is to be about, but not simply to make a business strong or to please a boss, but it is to glorify God.
Several years ago, I read and did a study of Respectable Sins from Jerry Bridges. These are the sins of life that are sometimes socially acceptable, but often what we focus on is life is big sins like are mentioned in the Ten Commandments which we all know to avoid. And yet these sins are impacting our lives and how we associate with others.
Ungodliness
Anxiety and Frustration
Discontentment
Unthankfulness
Pride
Selfishness
Lack of self-control
Impatience
Irritability
Anger
Judgmentalism
Envy, Jealousy
Sins of the Tongue
Worldliness
I think the danger in life always is living lives that are the best they can be and not simply good lives. Being the best is difficult and challenging and selfless. It is staying focused always on others. It is making decisions that go beyond the basics of life.
Prayer: God, I ask that I am someone in life that pursues righteousness, pursues good behavior, but not simply doing what everyone seeks, but am truly unselfish for the glory of You and seeing truth and seeking life always. Help me to not get comfortable and revert to pleasing myself. But to pursue righteousness always and consistently. Remind me of the principles I really want in my life - focusing on the big rocks of life and pursuing those big rocks. Lord, keep me uncomfortable and keep me focus on pursuing things that are good always, in all situations and let me do it always to glorify You.
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