Betrayal.
If you spend a long enough amount of time on Earth, you will experience it.
Unfortunately, it also seems to be true that if you spend enough time in ministry, you will experience it.
The betrayal of someone you know or love can be absolutely devastating. Some marriages never recover from the betrayal of infidelity. Some churches take years to overcome the betrayal of a pastor who was just a wolf in shepherd’s clothing, and likewise some good pastors leave the pulpit, never to return, on the heals of a betrayal from their congregants. Regardless of the kind of betrayal, they all have one thing in common.
All betrayal is the outward sign of a severe lack of righteousness.
According to Eerdmans Bible Dictionary,
“righteousness is not simply an abstraction, but possesses a relational aspect set within the context of God’s covenant with his people. Biblical usage thus differs from customary modern association of the word with absolute standards, indicating instead that some person, action, or thing meets or fulfills the requirements of a given relationship.”
In short, when righteousness abounds, relationships flourish. When righteousness is lacking, relationships fail. This notion of righteousness is oft repeated throughout the book of Proverbs, but must have been thoroughly on Solomon’s mind as he wrote chapter 11. At least, I think it must have been since righteousness is mentioned 12 times in this chapter alone.
The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
Proverbs 11:5–6 (ESV)
Righteousness is a matter of character. I hope you have the good fortune to be connected to a couple people who easily come to mind when you try to think of an example of one who is righteous. Obviously, God is the epitome of righteousness. He always does His part in His relationship with us. Thus, if we endeavor to be Christlike in our attitudes, actions, and behaviors (in short, our character), then we must do our best to be righteous, as we will toward it and as God enables us.
I think this proverb sums it up best.
“Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.”
Proverbs 11:19 (ESV)
So what can you do today to endeavor to be more righteous? What relationships do you need to repair from your lack of righteousness, and who do you need to forgive for their lack of righteousness? Does someone or a specific situation come to mind? Give it to Jesus. No one understands betrayal and righteousness better than He does.
Reference:
Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (p. 888). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
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