BLESSING OF THE RIGHTEOUS

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

BLESSING OF THE RIGHTEOUS

“Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds”, (Isaiah 3:10).

INTRODUCTION

The human society is always in the habit of ridiculing the good ones among them. In today’s world, the righteous are jettisoned, disdained, and often, by reason of their faith suffer deprivation. Countless times, certain employment opportunities are denied them with the assumption that they may constitute stumbling blocks to those who are there for sharp practices. Worst still, is the prevailing notion that the righteous are never do wells in the affairs of the world, as they are seen as religious fanatics who are good for nothing, except the bible they carry about. However, inspite of the hard times faced by these sacred sons and daughters of the Lord, God’s word raises hopes of welfare packages and un-interruptible blessing as rewards for their faithfulness. So, notice that:

THE FUTURE OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS BRIGHT

Though tough times may persist and economic problems devastating, the goodnews is that the future of the righteous is bright. It is not in the habit of the Lord to abandon His people, nor is He unmindful of the sufferings of those who serve Him faithfully. No doubt, this informs Isaiah’s message of hope, “tell the righteous, it will be well with them”…, (Isaiah 3:10a). But, who is the righteous that is addressed in this religious literature? In answer to the question, it may interest the reader to note that the righteous within the context of the subject-matter are the morally upright in society. In other words, the righteous are individuals who take no delight in doing what is against the laws of God and society. If they are lecturers, they do not mess-up with the female students, as a way of awarding them unmerited academic scores. If they are law enforcement agents, they make sure their duties are discharged in the fear of God. If they are Pastors, they ensure they exemplify what they preach. If they are political leaders, they shun greed, nepotism and avarice, etc. Such are the people that God brands righteous and take delight in making sure that all is well with them. Thus:

(1)     The righteous are never forsaken, not their seeds seen, begging bread, (Psalm 37:25);

(2)     The Lord blesses the righteous and surrounds them with favour, (Psalm 5:12);

(3)     The Lord’s curse is on the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous, (Prov. 3:33), etc.

THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS LEVEL

The righteous may not be the affluent or acclaimed individuals in society, but by divine providence are favoured to overcome the hurdles of life. They may have no funds for medical treatment overseas, yet their health needs are always met. They may have been deprived of their gratuities and pensions after long years of services, still they live happier than those who denied them such rights. They may not have built-up enough savings for the education of their wards and children, notwithstanding help comes in times of need. Even in the face of real trouble(s), the Lord becomes their source of protection and comfort. Surely, the path of the righteous is level, for the Lord makes their ways smooth, (Isaiah 26:7).

Having highlighted the above, one wonders why people take to wickedness, instead of righteousness, inspite of the favour it carries. One wonders why abduction, robbery, extortion, abortion and other anti-social behaviour reign in society, inspite of the deadly consequences that go with them. Today, people are apprehended, tried, imprisoned or executed by reason of the aforementioned, yet one witnesses high rate of such crimes in society. It is on the basis of this heart breaking experience that the writer wishes to draw the attention of the reader to the biblical fact that:

(1)     “The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment”, (Prov. 10:16);

(2)     “The prospects of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing”, (Verse 28);

(3)     “The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out”, (Prov. 13:9) etc.

THE RIGHTEOUS WILL ENJOY THE FRUIT OF THEIR DEED

The righteous will not labour for another to enjoy. They will not sow for someone else to reap, God’s word assures, (Isaiah 3:10b). But, to the wicked, God says, “disaster is upon them”, (verse 11a). When Haman, the second in command in the administration of King Xerxes, in the book of Esther had a plot to eliminate the Jews and Mordecai, little did he know that he would have a pay back from the Lord. It should be recalled that Mordecai was instrumental in the enthronement of Queen Esther, and by divine plan was destined to enjoy the fruit of his labour. But, Haman out of sheer wicked, vehemently and blindly opposed the will of God for Mordecai. However, his scheme turned out against him, as he was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. In other words, he was paid back in his own currency, (Esther 3-7). In the same manner, the law maker(s) that initiate(s)/legislate(s) against the Church and God’s people will surely receive a payback. The senior officer in the civil service who plots to stop a Christian on the basis of his/her faith from reaping the full benefits of the service, will definitely reap what he/she had sown. The woman whose interest is to remove a godly wife from the blessing of her marriage will hardly live to actualize such a dream, etc. This is because;

(1)         …”The Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish”, (Psalm 1:6);

(2)         “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates, (Psalm 11:5);

(3)         “The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead”, (Prov. 11:8), etc.

In conclusion, the way the wicked take undue advantage of the material provisions in the world may tempt the righteous into believing they are better placed. At times, wicked counsels come from them (the wicked) as ways of luring the righteous into ungodly decisions. But, to those who really know their God, they should take solace in the fact that, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. It is not so with the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away, (Psalm 1:1-4).   BE ADVISED.