THE REWARDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?"

David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have now driven me from my share in the Lord's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly."

"Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble."

Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph."

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

1 Samuel 26:17-25

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As David posed the question to Saul as to whether his motivation to kill him was coming from the Lord or himself, we saw in scripture where Saul realized it was his own will he was operating under…and in realizing this, realized also he was sinning. And so he sought and received David’s forgiveness for acting like a fool and erring greatly.

With this, David returns Saul’s sword to him and then says something very powerful…something that Saul needed to hear…and so do we.

For David said, “The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness”. Friends, it isn’t hard to understand what the Lord wants from us. It’s not some complex series of actions we need to complete to gain His favor. No…David sums it up nicely for Saul and us. The Lord expects and rewards us specifically for two actions…our righteousness and our faithfulness. So let’s look at what these two things entail so we know what we should be doing…and then see what rewards we gain by obeying the Lord’s simple requirements.

First, how does one live to be righteous?

Well, if we went to the dictionary, we would learn that being righteous means to act in accordance with divine or moral law…to be free from guilt or sin…to be morally right or justifiable. And these words bring us to understand what the Lord requires.

For the Lord wants us to live in obedience and compliance to His holy word and we find in the scriptures. And to help us do that, we have the Holy Spirit who serves as our Divine Counselor…God’s emissary to keep all His children on track and living the right way away from sin…or in other words, living in righteousness.

So we need only turn to the word of God, carry out its instructions, and surrender ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to ensure we live our lives righteously…and thus worthy of God’s reward.

Secondly, scripture tells us that the Lord rewards faithfulness. So what does it mean to be faithful?

Again to the dictionary where we read that a faithful person is one who is steadfast in affection or allegiance…one who is firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty…one who is true to a standard. Indeed, the Lord expects us to be steadfast and unwavering in our affection and allegiance to Him…loyal and loving to Him, just as He is to us. As we promise Him that we will follow His ways and turn from sin, He expects that we’ll keep that promise…just as He keeps His promises to us. In other words, if we want to be fully faithful to the Lord…we need only emulate the faithfulness He shows to us. And if we do this, we can be assured that we will be rewarded…because the Lord rewards faithfulness.

OK…so we strive and succeed in living in righteousness and faithfulness…and we know because of this the Lord will reward. So what rewards can we expect to receive?

God’s word tells us all we need to know.

In this devotion, we’ll first look at the Lord’s list of rewards for righteous living because God’s word assures us that “…he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” (Proverbs 11:18)

1. Peace.

“…righteousness and peace kiss each other.” Psalm 85:10

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.’ Isaiah 32:17

Peace. In a hectic world, don’t we all crave peace?

Well, when we live our lives in a way that follows the Lord’s word and will…a word and will illuminated and reinforced by the Holy Spirit…we live in peace. And when we surrender any problems we have to the only One powerful enough to handle them, then we experience a greater peace…a peace that transcends all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7)

When we live in righteousness while partnering with the Lord to do so, the Lord rewards us with peace.

2. Obedience

“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:16

Obedience leads us to righteousness as we act and live in accordance with God’s word and will. And remaining in an attitude of righteousness will keep us obedient. In other words, obedience and righteousness go hand in hand with each other.

Want to be obedient? Live in righteously toward the Lord.

Want to be righteous? Live obediently to the word and will of the Lord.

3. The ministry of the Spirit.

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 2 Corinthians 3:7-9

When we live righteously, conscientiously striving to be free of sin and obedient to the Lord’s will and way, then we are rewarded with the ministry of the Holy Spirit who is always there to guide us, comfort us, protect us and love us…no matter what.

And just as the scripture explains…what a glorious ministry this is…granted as a reward from the Lord for our righteousness.

4. Discipline.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

Now I can almost hear you saying, “Wait a minute! Discipline is a reward?”

It is when we consider discipline as it was meant to be.

For when we think of discipline, we think of punishment. This improper definition has been etched in our minds since childhood. But when we really look at the root meaning of the word discipline (from the Latin word disciplina), it doesn’t mean to punish…it means to teach.

So when we receive the Lord’s teaching…teaching that at times needs to be correctional in nature…we are led ever more toward righteous living. Or in other words, the Lord rewards us with discipline to sow righteousness within us…and for that we should give thanks.

5. A new self.

“…and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

“…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11

Something awesome happens when we commit ourselves to living in righteousness, obedient to the Lord’s word and expectations. We become a new person.

Actually scripture tells us we put on a new self. Why? Because when we decide to pursue righteousness and partner with the Lord in every way, then we begin more and more to be like Him…just the way He created us. And the more we become just like Him, the more we find ourselves living a life filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes from Christ and Christ alone…a new creation who lives fully in true righteousness and holiness. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

6. Faith

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ " Romans 1:16-17

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Romans 3:22

The road to righteous living follows the road of faithfulness. For we can’t possibly become righteous if we refuse to be faithful to the Lord, His word and His will for us. And that faithfulness can’t be inconsistent or else we end up living in inconsistent righteousness as well.

No…true faithfulness requires true commitment…a steadfast loyalty that lets the Lord know we won’t let Him down…just as He never lets us down.

For indeed, we reap the reward of the Lord’s faithfulness when we live in faithfulness toward Him. And is there any better place to live than in a place where the Lord is fully faithful to us? The answer is no.

So what rewards do we gain from our decision to live righteously?

Scripture tells us we gain peace, obedience, ministry of the Spirit, discipline, His faithfulness and a new self. One could also add other the fruits of the spirit which include love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22) for through the ministry of the Spirit, we will also enjoy these benefits from our righteousness.

Yes, the Lord blesses those who choose to live for Him in every way…for those who choose righteousness over sin.

So where so you stand in your life? Are you reaping His rewards? Or have you strayed from living in the Lord’s will and way…turning instead to sin, and in doing so, falling out of His favor?

If you’re living in and for the Lord, then you are already receiving the rewards mentioned above. Continue to persevere in your commitment to Him and never allow anyone or anything to deter you.

If you’ve haven’t lived for Him or have stopped living for Him, then the good news is that you can change that today. Make a commitment or recommitment to Him and stay faithful to that commitment, obediently surrendering your life to His word and will for your life. And in return, the Lord will remain committed to the promises He has made you…which include His vow to reward you richly…a place you definitely want to be.

Friends, let us give all of our thanks and praise to God for His rewards for righteousness.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at how He rewards faithfulness.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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