IN PURSUIT OF THE ONE WHO IS IN PURSUIT OF YOU

November 9, 2017

IN PURSUIT OF THE ONE WHO IS IN PURSUIT OF YOU

Proverbs 21:11–22

Matthew Wideman

Central Truth

When we pursue righteousness (how we relate to God) and kindness (how we relate to others), we will not only find what we are looking for but more. We get life now and ever after, we get righteousness from God, and we get honor from others as we honor them.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
(Proverbs 21:21)

11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
    he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
    will himself call out and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret averts anger,
    and a concealed bribe,^{1

21:14
Hebrew a bribe in the bosom} strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
    will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
    and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man devours it.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

Footnotes

[1] 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom

I love soccer. I went to college to play soccer. I was pursuing my dream of being the starting goalkeeper for the Southern Methodist University Mustangs. For my freshman and sophomore seasons, I worked so hard and did my best, but ended each season as the third-string goal keeper. My eyes were set on my junior year when it would be me and a younger recruit competing for the first-string position. I performed at the top of my game, but nothing changed. I asked my coach what I needed to do to get on the field. To my disappointment, he left me hopeless, saying there was nothing more I could do.

During this season, God changed me. I was all about soccer; then I started seeking His purpose. I started a Bible study on road trips with the team. I decided to pursue God and not my goal. God showed up!

Imagine having all the wealth of the world and not keeping your flesh from anything that it desires. This was Solomon's story. In Ecclesiastes 2:10, he said, "And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure . . . ." Solomon pursued a life of pleasure, and he got a handful of emptiness. Yet he tells us here in Proverbs 21 what to pursue. Life is not found in anything but God Himself. If we seek righteousness (how we relate to God) and kindness (how we relate to others), we will not only find what we are looking for but more. We get life now and ever after, we get righteousness from God, and we get honor from others as we honor them.

Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) I think He is on to something here! When I pursued God instead of my goal in soccer, I found life. Then I got to play. I ended that season giving the invocation at the College Cup banquet before the top four teams in the nation. How good is God?

1. What are you pursuing in your life right now? Go ask a spouse, friend, parent, child and/or community member how they would answer that for you.

2. When was the last time you went to God just to worship Him and not to get something? Why not do that now?

3. What is it that you want more than anything right now? What if God keeps that from you to show you He is enough? Would you be satisfied?