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The Line between Good and Righteous

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some will even dare to die. But God commends his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” [Romans 5: 7, 8]. The text in quote implies that there is a “line” between good and righteous as there is a difference between a righteous man and a good man. The concept of “line” signifies a line of separation, usually between two opposing ideals, and it is abstract rather than physical. Such line of separation between two opposing ideals is expressed in statements such as “the line between good and evil,” “a thin line between love and hate,” and “the battle line being drawn.” “The line between good and righteous” on the other hand is neither abstract nor is it physical, but spiritual instead. The statement, “This is where we draw the line” also implies that whenever and wherever there is a line, there is always someone who draws that line. In the line between good and righteous, it is the LORD who draws the line and not man. Man has always equate being good with being righteous and a good man with a righteous man. A person that is considered a very good person in the eyes of man may turn out not to be righteous at all in the eyes of God. The ultimate good is man’s highest aspiration but righteousness is God’s greatest desire for man. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” [Romans 3: 10].

It is quite easy to disagree on how really good a man is. Good is a subjective term and one that could be open to multiple interpretations. How good a man is could be subjective to conflicting interpretations of the people looking at him. A good friend to one man might really turn out to be another man’s worst enemy, but a righteous man will always prove himself righteous all the time [Job 1: 1]. Usually in moments of frustration with a parent or a spouse, most of us have heard people say, “My good is just not good enough for you.” Maybe you have even made that statement to someone that you love dearly. Whenever being good is not enough, try being righteous instead. No man has ever gone wrong with being righteous. It is the world that measures a man according to the standard of whether he is good or not good, but God measures a man on the scale of whether he is righteous or unrighteous. The word “good” never really describes the position of a man in terms of his relationship with God. Righteousness is synonymous with godliness and it describes a man’s position in his relationship with God [Proverbs 14: 34]. The true definition of righteousness is the one found in the prayer, “Order my steps in your word: and let not any iniquity have authority over me.”[Psalm 119: 133].

The young, rich, Jewish leader asked the question “Teacher, what good deed should I do to gain eternal life?” in an apparent attempt to justify his “self-righteousness.” But Jesus’ response implies that there is a difference between being good and being righteous and that being good is not equal to being righteous [Matthew 19: 16 - 26]. Speaking from a human point of view, it was also possible that there were many good people in Sodom and Gomorrah, but God could not find ten righteous ones there [Genesis 18: 32]. Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed for the lack of ten good people but rather for the lack of ten righteous ones.

K. George Olubodun, Writer/Publisher

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