Rooted In Righteousness :: Deeper Devotion

By Glenn Ansley

Proverbs 12:3
A man will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.

The hooded shadows of men dancing on the walls of a dimly lit room; low and dull chants echoing softly off trees in a midnight forest; the prideful smile of evil, captured by the artist on a “Most Wanted” poster. While some behaviors and individuals are unmistakably wicked by our own terms, we often forget that God considers every unrighteous act as wicked and immoral. Psalm 50:16-21 identifies wickedness with those who hate discipline, rejoice with thieves, associate with adulterers, speak deceit, and slander their family. Galatians 5:19-21 counts impurity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, envying, and drunkenness, all among the works of the flesh, which is inherently wicked from birth (Romans 8:7). It is against these acts that Proverbs so wisely counsels us to make no part of our lives. The person who builds his or her foundation upon wickedness will soon find their house crashing down around them.

In stark contrast, the one who lives by integrity and righteousness will establish for themselves roots extending so deeply into the hand of God that they will never be moved. Psalms 1:1-3 describes the life of a righteous person like that of a tree “planted firmly by streams of water.” If we will seek to honor God in all we do, depending on Him alone for our strength and provision, nothing will wreck the foundation we are building our lives upon. The righteous will “yield much fruit in [their] season, and [their] leafs will not wither; whatever [they] do will prosper.” The wicked, however, are blown away like chaff.

From which pile do you take bricks while building your life? Is your foundation created with deceit and jealousy or truth and love? Do outbursts of anger control your day or does peace and patience rule your heart? It’s difficult to make the decision in the middle of an argument or dispute. Many times the pile of “wicked bricks” is much closer and they are easier to lift than the righteous ones. Today, I encourage you to make the extra effort to take bricks from the “pile of righteousness.” Get up and walk the extra mile if it is needed. A foundation built upon integrity and righteousness will become a blessing to you, not only here on earth, but also before the throne of God in heaven.

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