Righteous dude!

Proverbs 10:25
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Proverbs are fun. They are like an intermission in the center of the Bible, filled with wisdom and common sense. It’s the fortune cookie of God’s word. I don’t know about you fine folks, but I love some Chinese food and I always eat the fortune cookie. So if you’re a fan of the Super China Mega-buffet, and you’re hungry today, you’re going to love what God’s word has in store for you!

As I was reading along this morning I noticed something interesting. The word righteous kept jumping out off the page at me. Two questions came into my mind: what and who is righteous? If I could figure this out, then these sayings might have a whole new meaning to me.

First off, let’s define righteous. Righteous is an adjective. It’s a word used to describe someone or something. Here in Proverbs, it’s describing someone. Righteous is defined as a person who is morally right, without sin, and fully justified, one who observes and maintains the entire law. Holy is a good synonym for righteous.

Knowing the definition certainly makes it a lot easier for us to decide who is righteous. Jesus is righteous. Better than knowing that Jesus is righteous, I know that I am righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 6:18, Romans 5:17). Since Scripture verifies this for me, I can be confident in my statement that I am righteous.

These Proverbs were written by Solomon, the wisest and richest man ever to live, for our learning and instruction. They are filled with valuable life lessons (or principles, if you will) about finances, marriage, child rearing, and countless other day-to-day struggles that we all face. I find it more encouraging, however, to read them as a personal letter from Christ to me. They take on a whole new meaning; they give a whole new understanding of who I am because of Christ.

The Bible tells me that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, I am free to insert myself in the text every time the word “righteous” appears. (Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.) The yoke of slavery is the constant labor of trying to fulfill the law through works. The yoke of slavery is our vain attempts to gain God’s blessing and righteousness through our own good deeds.

Since all the work was done and finished at the Cross (John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.), I can rest in the understanding that these Proverbs aren’t things that I have to strive to achieve, but that they are things which have already been achieved for me, through Christ.

It’s a lot easier to read these as the righteous, rather than as one still trying to become righteous. When the whirlwind passes by, what if I’m not righteous? Will I fall? Will I be swept away? How do I become righteous? These are the questions that must be asked without Christ. But with Him, the fact is that when the whirlwind comes, I won’t be swept away because I have an everlasting foundation. His name is Jesus! As He is, so are we in this world!