Bible Reading: Psalm 37, Jude 1: 19-25
“The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever: They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied”- Psalm 37:18-19(KJV)
Living uprightly have tremendous benefits. The way of an upright man is guided by the word of God. Uprightness is a synonym to righteousness. The bible says God knoweth the days of the upright. When we consider this in line with Exodus 23: 26b(KJV), “the number of your days I will fulfil,” it gives us a revelation that serving God is living and doing uprightly. God declares that He will see to it himself that the number of days earmarked for the upright is fulfilled. What this means in effect is that the righteous is not permitted to die before his time on earth. This was the promise Hezekiah presented to God when he was told by the prophet Isaiah that his time was up. He presented his upright walk with God and asked why God would take away the residue of his life (Isaiah 38). God added fifteen years to him and he recovered from his illness.
The inheritance of the upright shall be forever. An upright man shall leave an inheritance free from encumbrance for his children. His properties will never be a subject of litigation. In his uprightness he has set his house in order. Whatever the upright man is leaving for his children will never bring sorrow to them. He lives behind contentment as a lifestyle for his children. The offspring of the righteous will dwell in the land without fear. Proverb 2:21(KJV) “For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.”
The upright shall not be afraid in the evil time. The place of the upright is in God’s protective custody. It is so because “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” Psalm 37: 29-30(KJV). The upright will guide his affairs with discretion ensuring that he does not soil his hand with corruption. He will not involve himself in fraudulent practice that will put him in fears when retribution comes from the LORD. “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them” Proverb 11:3(KJV). The Psalmist put this in very clear terms, “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD” – Psalm 112:7(KJV).
The upright shall be satisfied in the days of famine. See what the scriptures says about the upright, “Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever” – Psalm 112:3(KJV). The scripture further expounded on this in Job 5:20,22a(KJV) “In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword……….At destruction and famine thou shall laugh”
There is unquantifiable gain in living an upright life. Holding on to integrity with all firmness of heart is a great virtue we must all practice to rid our society of the massive corruption and rot seen everywhere. However, no man can live a righteous life without Christ. It is very important that you seek the God of righteousness to come into you and dwell so that you can live uprightly. Jesus loves you and paid the price of your sin so that you can be set free to serve God in complete uprightness of heart.
Prayer: Father, grant the reader of this piece a craving heart for your righteousness.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo