June 28
/Proverbs 10:17-32 / Read
“The righteous” are referenced eight times in this passage and 13 total times in Proverbs 10. Righteous are those who are in right-standing with God - that is, he declares them sinless (perfect) and free of guilt and shame.
In this proverb and many others, the righteous person is lifted up as one who lives a life of great honor and value, the picture of who we can become as we travel the path of God’s wisdom. Yet the definition of righteous is so strong. Who is perfect? Who in their right mind is able to stand before God and say that they’ve kept his moral code in every area of life?
In our time and place, we have the great benefit of reading the Old Testament in light of the New Testament. We should desire and choose the life of the righteous, but do so with the understanding that on our own “there is no one righteous.” (Romans 3:10) Our lives bear witness that we are incapable of becoming the people in Proverbs 19 who we long to become. What, then, can we - the unrighteous - do?
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)
Those who are in Christ have been made righteous before God - not in their identity and performance, but in his. The life of the righteous in Proverbs 19 is the life available to anyone who finds themselves in Christ.
Still, how should we live? What choices should we make? This is where we come to an important understanding of the Christian faith: We make the wise choices, of course, but we don’t make them to become righteous; we make them because we are righteous in Jesus. Our primary identity is no longer found in our family name, our occupation, our athleticism or our social standing. It is found in Christ, as a child in perfect standing with our heavenly Father.
Re-read today’s passage and identify what way of the righteous you most desire. Why?
To the best of your ability, identify how Jesus lived out the life you desire. Can you think of a particular story from his life that illustrates that life?
Spend some time praying with God. Be honest: Is your primary identity in Jesus? Do you believe that God loves you as his child and has already declared you righteous? How will you draw on Christ’s perfection and power to live out your true identity today?