Righteous is Being Thoughtful and Deliberate

I have a saying that I use often, “Focus on Getting it Right, Not Just Getting it Done”. I have mentioned this before here in my writing and feel as though I was lead to this saying this morning once again in my study of the word “righteous”. As I wrote before on the definition of righteous from Merriam-Webster, it is that we should act “in accord with divine or moral law”. In order to do so, I have to consider divine or moral law in my actions, and to do so means that I must first know and understand the divine or moral law and be thoughtful and deliberate in it carrying out.

Let’s consider David and Saul. Saul was no fan of David and actively sought him out to kill him. This is certainly a trying time for David and he was well within his rights to defend himself to the point of killing Saul to do so. In fact, in the passage from 1 Samuel 24, we are reminded that His enemy would be handed over to him.

“⁴And the men of David said to him, ‘Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, “Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.”’” – 1 Samuel 24:4a (ESV)

It is pretty clear here as I read, that David would be presented an opportunity to stop all the madness of pursuing to kill, by taking action in a situation given to him by the LORD. David was being pursued and found himself in the situation where he had the chance to end the situation and relax. Based on the words said, it seemed as David was presented the chance to kill his pursuer. But wait. David stopped and thought and instead took some deliberate action to avoid bloodshed and accomplish the same.

“⁴Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.” – 1 Samuel 24:4b (ESV)

What, he only cut off the corner of the robe? Well, David was acting “in accordance with divine or moral law”. Remember the commandments, thou shall not kill and love thy neighbor as thyself. David spared the life of Saul in accordance to the LORD.

“⁶He said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ⁷So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.” – 1 Samuel 24:6-7 (ESV)

How often do we take hasty action based on information we have at the time and do not consider all the information that we have at our disposal. David was given information and in the moment it made sense for him to take the decisive action of killing Saul. But when he considered the rest of the information, he thought better of it and elected to act accordingly. And what did he get for his action?

“¹⁷He said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. ¹⁸And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. ¹⁹For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. ²⁰And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.’” – 1 Samuel 24:17-20 (ESV)

He was declared as righteous and acknowledged for what he would become, by his very enemy none the less. Saul recognized that David was well within his rights to take the decisive action and kill him. Yet, David was thoughtful and deliberate and acted according to God’s Law and spared his life. David got it right.

I have to remember that to get it right means that I have to be thoughtful and deliberate. I have to look at and understand all of the information available and not just that which is presented in the moment. Will this make me righteous, I do not know. But it will help to ensure that I am taking actions that would be considered righteous, “in accordance with divine or moral law”.

How do you act in situations? Are you reactive with the information you have in the moment? What if you were to slow down, consider all information, and act thoughtfully and deliberately, “in accordance with divine or moral law”?

Righteous, There are Not Many

This morning I have been reminded of the fact that there are indeed not many in this world who are righteous. I am reading in Genesis of Noah and God’s destruction on the earth to rid it of the evil that had taken hold. Of all those on the earth, He identified only Noah as being righteous.

“⁵The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” and “⁸But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” – Genesis 6:5 & 8 (ESV)

The LORD found that Noah was a man following Him. Only one man and his immediate family were to be saved.

“⁹These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. ¹⁰And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” – Genesis 6:9-10 (ESV)

I do not know how many were in the world at the time, but for the LORD to only identify one to be righteous, that is quite the small percentage. I am sure that there were thousands if not hundreds of thousands and only one was determined to be righteous.

Now, let’s take a look at the percentages and translate that to this world today. If there were 100,000 people, then Noah would have been .001% of them. Think about it, with a million then there would only be 10 righteous. And a society of a billion people would only have 10,000 righteous. And with the current population of the earth being around 8 billion, that would be only about 80,000 as righteous. Now, that looks and seems like a good number of people, but consider that even if rounded to 100,00 people there would be only the city of Davenport, IA (according to the estimate of 2023 found in Wikipedia) that would considered righteous, and that is only one town among the world. And think, that is presuming a population of 100,000 along with Noah. There are not many righteous in the world. And, as much as I would like to believe I am righteous, would I make the cut with the LORD.

I have to look at my role here in this world. My role is to spread the gospel to all I come in contact with. I do not, as Noah did not, have to concern myself with all else that is going on in the world. I know that there is evil out there as did Noah. And just as he did, I am to put my head down and do the work that the LORD has for me. Noah built the ark and I am to spread the gospel. Whether or not I am righteous is not for me to decide, that is left up to and judged by the LORD. My role is simply to do the work and allow the LORD to see the work.

There are not many righteous in this world, and that is known. I do not know if I am one of them, and that is okay. I am to do the work that the LORD has for me and know that when my time is up, I will find myself in glory.

What is your understanding of your righteousness? Do you look out for yourself as if you are righteous and all others are not? What if you look at the numbers and realize that there are not many who are righteous and that only God knows their names, so you put your head down and do the work He has for you until your time is done?

Righteous Defined

This morning I am beginning to study the word “righteous” and thought it a good idea to look into the word first and then begin my study of the biblical applications.

Righteous – 1: acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin 2a: morally right or justifiable b: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality (Merriam-Webster Online)

As I review the definition I see that to be counted as righteous, one is to be in line with God, “accord with divine or moral law”. One also is “justifiable”. I believe we have to be careful with our view of being righteous to ensure that there is a fit into those.

Someone that is righteous is not necessarily perfect. There are some that did/do questionable things and frankly may not be liked in the world. When just viewing the actions of the person, one might view them differently although they were following the will of God. Noah was a righteous man although he did build and ark and only took his family and animals allowing for the rest of the world to be wiped out. Abraham was a righteous man who was willing to kill his son. David was a righteous man and he killed a man.

Looking at the definition, and taking into account being in line with God and being justified in action, I know that each of these men above were certainly that. If you just look at the actions of them without knowing the whole rest of the story, one might see them as evil and only in line with their own wants and desires, Noah to survive, Abraham to keep his authority, and David to demonstrate his power and strength. Yet, when you look closer at the reason for their actions you see the alignment with God, Noah told by God to take only his family to start fresh in the world, Abraham demonstrating his obedience to God no matter the cost, and David to demonstrate that with God all things are possible.

I believe that we have to be more in line with God than with anything or anyone else. This alignment with God does not guarantee anything, although it is a great place to start. When aligned with God, I will find myself morally correct and justified in my actions. Will I always get it right, OH NO. But more often than not, I will.

Am I righteous, that I do not know, as only God will determine that. I will say that I do what I can to be in alignment with God. I know that my actions that are in response to God are justified in His plan and therefore I am in His will. The consequences I may experience in this world are of little concern when I consider that I am doing things in the will and as a result of follow the law of God. I will be told when I meet the LORD in heaven as to whether or not I was righteous in this world and until then it is my responsibility to following His will and striving for righteousness.

What is your understanding of the word righteous? Are you of the opinion that it is something that the world recognizes? What if you focused instead on being aligned with God as opposed to the world?

Honor the LORD Always and Forever

This morning I was reminded that I am to honor the LORD always and forever. I know, how is it that I even need the reminder. Well, it isn’t so much that I need it to get back to doing so, it is the reminder that honoring the LORD is to never stop.

“⁸And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!’

⁹And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

‘¹¹Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.’”

— Revelation 4:8-11 (ESV)

I was led to this passage in my study of the word “honor”. It is titled “The Throne in Heaven”. Where I see the glory of the throne, I also see the honor of the LORD. Reading the passage I was really taken to the creatures and elders continually praising and honoring the LORD. And as written, the LORD lives forever and ever and to go along with that the honor of Him does as well.

I have to take the same look at my worship and honor of the LORD here in this world even before I arrive in heaven at the time appointed by God. Everyday and continually, I am to honor the LORD as the creatures and elders do in the above verses.

The LORD is not He just in my times of grave need. He is there always for me, in times of grave need and in times of joy and celebration. As He is with me always and forever, I will be there to honor Him always and forever. I have to remember to honor Him in the mornings as I do here and all throughout the day. I have to take the moments to praise the LORD in the midday and afternoon and night.

Those who practice the Muslim religion take five times each day to pray. They are dedicated to it and rarely allow the world to get in the way of those prayers. Should I not as a Christian take a similar approach in the honor of the LORD. I should be honoring Him multiple times daily. Maybe to start, I should get on a schedule. I should make it a priority and rarely allow the world to get in the way.

The idea here is not to honor and praise the LORD out of fulfilling some task on a list for the day. I have to get in the habit of honoring and praising the LORD continually, always and forever. When I do, I will find myself in deeper connection with Him and as a result will find more direct answers to my questions and requests. Honor the LORD always and forever.

When are you honoring the LORD? Are you doing so once and moving on? What if you were to take the always and forever approach to honoring the LORD?

Honor Everyone

How divided we are and for what reasons, we don’t “like” everyone? Well, we have to get over it. We have to get back to the place where we find that there is disagreement, yet those disagreements do not mean that one side is deserving of evil treatment. Even in disagreement, there is good in most, if not all people. This is where there is the opportunity to come together for the common and agree that the people should be viewed as just that, people and are deserving of love.

“¹³Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” – 1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV)

In the above verses, Peter is speaking to the people about their relationship with authority. I see this as another extension into our relationship with others. I see that we are in the act of vilification of others, just because they do not think or do things like we do. And this is from all sides of everything. We find ourselves interacting with others that are on the other side of whatever and immediately take the position of opposition and the belief that they are wrong and should be taken down for being so.

Well, this opposition thinking is such a short-sighted approach. I have to remember that those who I interact with are indeed my brothers and sisters. Maybe not in Christ, but in this world that we live in and that brings them to deserving of love and, as Peter mentions above, honor.

Verse 17 is where I was led this morning as I was studying God’s Word. What I found is that honor is to be provided to everyone, regardless of their station in this world. They may be the “emperor” or just someone in the “brotherhood”, everyone is deserving, even those with which we may not agree.

Recently I was presented a situation where I was not being given the information needed in order to understand the situation. We, Lori and I, had been dealing with something over the course of about 11 hours and along the way, felt like we were being set up for resolution, only to be continually in the dark on the plan. I became very stern and matter-of-fact with someone who did not understand my position and procured someone else to speak with me/us. On the surface, it may have seemed that I was being mean and lacking understanding or compassion with the other person. However, what was missing was the understanding from their side. The other person started making excuses as to why the information may not have been shared as opposed to apologizing and just working to get the information. To the outside observer, it may have been thought I did not respect the person, when in fact, I did and that is the reason I was asking for information from them and not someone else. I did not let their position lord over me although I am sure that the reason for stepping away was that the person could not truly understand my frustration.

Even in the situation above, the honor was not missing for the other individual. The person was deserving of honor, it was the lack of information that was being questioned, not the person. Regardless of someone’s position, the person is deserving of honor even when the situation may be a bit contentious.

I have to remember that not all situations will be to my liking and that there will be opposition I have to work through. In those situations as with all, the person is due honor and not to be the opposition. I have the duty to love all people and provide for them that which they deserve.

What do your interactions look like? Are you finding yourself in contention with others and possibly looking at the person as the opposition? What if you were to provide for the person the honor they deserve, understanding the position they hold and working to resolve the situation?

Honor Marriage

I certainly did not expect to read up on marriage this morning and especially in the realm of sex and marriage.

“⁴Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” – Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)

Lori and I have been married for over 27 years. I love her dearly and only want to please her. Has our marriage been all sunshine and rainbows, that would be a resounding NO. There have been some really difficult times to deal with in our household and our relationship, as I expected and know is the same for all marriages. But, we made a promise to each other and to God, in front of a good number of witnesses that we would be in it for the long haul, and through the good and the bad. We are devoted to one another and to the sanctity of our marriage and that promise made years ago.

I believe that our relationship has lasted as long as it has and will continue to last is due to promises made. Not just the one made for our marriage, but the promise made to follow God in our marriage. The promise made to God in our individual life. The promise God made of salvation. All of these and many more are the reasons for our relationship success.

As I have mentioned before, my study of God’s Word is just following the topic led to from the concordance. I am currently in a study of the word “honor” and allow God to lead my learning for the day on that topic. This morning I was led to Hebrews 13 and the passage titled “Sacrifices Pleasing to God”. The verse above is where the word “honor” is, and I am led this morning to dive into this verse.

The title of the passage in Hebrews is a window into where I am going this morning. One of the things that are challenging with promises, is the keeping of them. There are sacrifices that may be required. And sometimes those sacrifices may not be easy to make.

I want to be clear here. I am not a proponent of sexual promiscuity. I will not promote the societal way of thinking that multiple partners is okay. What I will say is that it is clear in God’s Word that the promise of marriage is one that includes devotion to one another in the bedroom as well as everywhere else.

In reference to verse 4 above, it is the promise of sexual dedication to one another where there is sacrifice. I know, there is sacrifice in being dedicated sexually to your spouse? Yes, especially when you think of the openness of today’s societal thinking. It is acceptable in today’s world to see sex as a carnal instinct and that devotion to one other person as counter to that instinct. Well, it may be acceptable in this world, but it is not acceptable in God’s world. A promise was made and in order to uphold that promise, there needs to be sacrifice in this world.

Marriage is to be honored by all. Those outside of the relationship should hold marriage in high regard and pay the honor that is due to those in that relationship. Those who are married should honor the marriage with their sacrifice to give up those things of the societal world and devote to one another. All should sacrifice to ensure that they are doing those things that are pleasing to God as those promises are to be kept most of all.

What promises were made in your marriage? Are you still looking for ways to have it all without sacrifice? What if you took your marriage and honored it as you would honor your relationship with God?

Follow Instructions of the LORD

This morning I was led to 1 Timothy for my study in God’s Word. I am continuing to study the word “honor” and chapter six leads with instructions to the church that largely are related to that subject.

I am again reminded that God’s Word is constant. It is the same today as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He gave instructions to honor in the Ten Commandments (in Exodus) and then again we see His instruction to those who would lead the church (1 Timothy). He does not waver and is as true today as He was in those times.

“³Honor widows who are truly widows.” And, “¹⁷Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” – 1 Timothy 5:3&17 (ESV)

Notice here that Paul reiterates the honor that is to be payed to those in the church. There are a lot of details in the instructions between and after these verses, and we should all take a look at them, study them, and work to understand them, but the verses themselves tell us where to begin. We are to honor those owed the payment as noted.

Instructions are there to be followed. When we make a purchase of something that needs to be put together, we follow the instructions to do so. We have become dependent on instructions from our GPS to get somewhere and we follow them almost without question. What better instructions to follow than those given by God. He is instructing us to honor and that is what we should do, almost without question.

I know, “almost without question”. That seems a bit vague and needs some clarification. Yes, “almost”. God’s Word is final and we can rely on the instructions that we are given. We should trust that what He is telling us is true. As Ronald Reagan used often, “Trust but verify”. It is good for us to ask questions to understand and clarify the instructions to ensure that we get it right. Carpenters are taught to measure twice and cut once to ensure that they get it right (something that I have learned the hard way a number of times). My role here as relates to God’s instruction is to follow. I can and should question to understand, but ultimately I am to follow.

God has given us instruction to honor those owed. It is my duty to do so. I am here to spread His gospel. I am here to obey. I am here to follow the instructions of the LORD.

What is your approach to instructions? Are you just throwing them aside as you go and look for things to turn out well? What if you took the instruction of the LORD as the constant that it is?

Honor for Your Parents for the Promise

As I study God’s Word, it seems as though I am coming back to the same passages again and again. God has new things for me to learn as I do. Now I know that over a lifetime, there are many days and the odds of coming back to the same passages are really good, it is just that I have been doing a dive into God’s Word over the past number of years and I have really noticed the guidance through His Word. This morning I am led back to Ephesians as I study the word “honor”.

“‘²Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise),’³that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’” – Ephesians 6:2-3 (ESV)

Familiar passage indeed. Yet, I still learned something this morning. The parenthetical statement above, “this is the first commandment with a promise”. I had not thought of it from that perspective before. God not only gave us a commandment, but told us the outcome of keeping it. It will “go well”. God has told us that doing that which we are commanded to do will result in good things to come.

I know, well bring on the good things. It is simple, yet difficult at the same time. Saying that I honor my parents in public and even in private is one thing, but really putting it into practice is another thing all together. Honoring them is an action and not just words. I have to remember to show them that I honor them and not just tell them that I love them.

Recently, my family traveled and my mother went along with us. My mother is into her 70s and where she is relatively healthy, she is not able to keep up with us young kids (we are in our 50s, LOL) like she used to. At one point my wife and our boys went on a hike to see a site and mom and I were tagging along. We got about half way to the destination and I realized that my mother was likely not to make it. Where seeing the site would have been nice, I elected to turn back with my mother to wait on everyone to return. Mom was more important to me than seeing something that was not going anywhere. I honored her by being there with and for her.

Now, honoring our parents is not to be done for some reward. I did not think about the reward when I stayed with mom. I did not want something out of it. But thinking back to the time spent with her, I see that I may have received the reward. Things for me did “go well” as I was able to have some good private conversation with mom and connect with her away from the formal setting of most conversations. It was all, in the moment and was very real and lovely.

Our role with our parents is to honor them through our action. We are to demonstrate to them that they are indeed important and when it comes down to it, they were the first to love us and for that, they deserve our honor.

What is your approach to your parents? Are you seeing them as just another person in your life? What if you were to honor them for the position they hold or held in your life?

Pay What is Owed

As I read and think, I cannot help but reflect on the state of our world today and the total lack of payment to what is owed. This morning I am studying the word “honor”. I was led to the passage in Romans directing me to “submission to the authorities”.

“⁷Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” – Romans 13:7 (ESV)

Above are Paul’s words as to paying what is owed. All of those items are sorely missing in society today. How many are not paying their taxes? How many are not paying respect? How many are not paying honor?

When I look at the words from Paul, I have to remember that paying what is owed does not mean that I am agreeing with it. It means that I am fulfilling an obligation. I have incurred the taxes and therefor must pay them. Those in positions of authority have earned the position and should be respected. Those who have given of themselves must be honored for their sacrifices. I may not like to pay taxes, and I may not like the person in authority, and I may not agree with the area where the sacrifice was given. But, all of those things are things that are to be payed out of the it is right to do so.

My youngest son Aarron volunteered to serve in the Navy. He has given of himself for something greater than himself. I could not be more proud of his decision to do so. Am I afraid for him, yes. Would I do the same, I am not sure. The one thing I can say is that I will honor him for the sacrifice that he is making that others may or would not make. I do not look down on others, as they are following their path, and I may be with them as well. But honor is given to Aarron for he has earned it, even if others do not agree with his decision.

Our authorities in the world are in those positions as God has allowed it. It does not mean that they are the “best” for the role, but they are there and deserve the respect of the position. We do not have to “like” the person, but the position is instituted by God and is deserving of respect as a result. Paul points out that authority is from God, and deserving of respect.

“¹Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” – Romans 13:1 (ESV)

As for the paying of taxes as they are owed. Even if we do not agree with them, we are to pay them. Paul is simply restating that which Jesus Himself stated, that we are to respect the authority and pay that which is owed.

“¹⁴And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?’ ¹⁵But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.’ ¹⁶And they brought one. And he said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said to him, ‘Caesar’s.’ ¹⁷Jesus said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they marveled at him.” – Mark 12:14-17 (ESV)

We are obligated to pay that which is owed. There is nothing in what Jesus says or Paul reiterates that indicates we are to pay more, and there it is not referenced as to what is fair or right, it is in reference to simply what is owed.

I am obligated to pay what is owed. I may not like it, but I am obligated to pay. That pay is not just in the form of monetary compensation, but in the currency of the situation, money, respect, honor, etc.

I am reminded this morning to remove the emotion from transaction and do as the LORD has directed and Paul has restated. I am obligated to pay that which is owed.

What are your thoughts as relate to paying what is owed? Are you fighting and resisting? Think about it, what if you listened to the LORD in the area of your obligations to pay that which I owed?

Leave Your Mother

“³And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?’ ⁴He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵and said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”?’” – Matthew 19:3-5 (ESV)

Marriage is for a lifetime, and it is to be fully between husband and wife. That should go without stating, however how many out there work to hold on to their mother and their wife as being the same. Jesus is clear here that one is to leave mother and devote themselves fully to their wife. It is now the husband and the wife on their own, carving out life together as one.

I would be remiss in ignoring that one would like his wife to be similar to his mother. I know that Lori and my mother are similar in their love of me. But, that is really where it ends. I do not expect Lori to care for and guide and nurture me as I did my mother when I was a child. I have moved to Lori and all of her.

I am not saying that we should cut our mothers off, that we should ignore them for the rest of our lives. What I am saying is that mother have done their jobs and have handed us over to our wives. My mother is still important, yet now, my wife, Lori has taken her place in the priority list of my life.

Where is your mother in your priority list? Do you still have her at the top of your list just below God? What if you leave your mother and approached your wife as the single most important one just below the LORD?