True Righteousness

Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? (Ecc 7:16)

Many years ago in Puerto Rico, I was at a radio station and met a Pastor whose reputation had been tarnished by rumors of an affair that he had with a much younger woman. This particular young lady was the best friend of a member of my church, so I had certain information that I felt was reliable. As I spoke with the Pastor, I made no references to what I knew and felt too intimidated by this well-known leader to ask any questions. Although I don’t remember the context of our conversation, I do remember one statement that he made to me; “Young man, you will be weak [in your ministry]“. In retaliation to his comment I blurted out: “Maybe, but not like you” – (without revealing the information that I had).

That conversation took place over thirty years ago; I was only twenty-seven years old. Today I realize that I should have shown that elderly pastor, who had a church of over 2000 members a little more respect – even though I knew that he had fallen from being a faithful steward of his calling. The truth is I felt more righteous than he. I was fasting twice every week, getting up early to pray, reading my bible and studying each day… I thought I was holier than he, I felt superior because I hadn’t committed the same fault as he had; in my own eyes I was both closer to God and a better man that he. What arrogance! What pride!

Over the years, my ministry has gone through many battles that have brought out both the best and worst in me, I have suffered through church divisions, false accusations and countless situations that have proven to me that I stand purely on the grace of God. As far as moral temptation is concerned, I cannot boast in the fact that I have been faithful to my wife; I can only say that I have been miraculously protected from temptation. Of course, I love, honor and cherish my wife and children more than anything in this world, but the bottom line is that God, has protected me for His own reasons, both the victory and glory belong to Him.

Peter once thought that he was beyond failing and He even set himself above the rest of the apostles as we read in the following verses:

Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” (Mat 26:31-33)

Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples. He said “You will all fall away…” — yet Peter boldly said: “Even though all (of them) may fall away… I will never fall away.” Peter apparently had allowed his personal sense of commitment and righteousness to go to his head. He felt that he was invincible, unconquerable, and unshakable. That same night he found out differently.

I have often thought: “I love God too much to fail Him… maybe others have given in to backsliding, but I never will” – but then, by the grace of God, some sort of adversity came my way that revealed my limitations. I have found out that although I have been married many years, I am not a perfect husband; I have 3 wonderful children but I have not been the perfect father, and I love the Lord, but my relationship with Him has often waned towards becoming lukewarm, I can only thank Him for never leaving me to myself.

I hate to admit it, but the pastor who told me that I would become weak was right! After all of my efforts to become a saint, in the end I found that my righteousness (the religious righteousness of self-effort and work) was only “filthy rags” (Isa 64:6), I have learned that I am just like everyone else – my righteousness has not gained me any more favor with God than others. I am nothing without Him and it is only His grace that sustains me.

For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, (1Pe 1:24)

as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; (Rom 3:10)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Rom 3:23)

Now, I sit as an elder pastor training younger ones to take over my ministry. I can tell by their attitudes that they all feel invincible. My message to them is “Do all you can do for the Kingdom of God!!! Use every gift, tool and talent that you have to build your ministry…. BUT, REMEMBER, AS YOU ARE BUILDING ON THE OUTSIDE – GOD WILL BE TEARING YOU DOWN ON THE INSIDE” Most of them think I am just aging and losing my edge. I can see it in their eyes when I start warning them about themselves… “Oh boy, here he comes again with that same old story about humbling myself and the grace of God.” I just laugh to myself because I know what awaits them… we are all the same.

God has blessed my life and ministry… I having nothing to complain about … but if I could go back about 30 years with my present experience, I would change my approach to daily living. I would rest more in the faith that God has a predetermined plan; I would try to impress Him less with my religious works and enjoy life in Christ a little more; I would spend more time holding my wife and children; speak fewer words and listen more carefully and finally, be satisfied with less because more (of anything) complicates life.

The Apostle Paul was once known as the Pharisee Saul. He was educated, mentored by outstanding scholars and zealous to fulfill the Law of Moses. In his religious ambition he failed to see the plan of God unfolding before his eyes and persecuted the church, thinking that he was doing God a favor! When Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light, he realized that all of his righteousness was nothing – he was at ground zero – at the feet of Jesus… NOW his true service to God could begin! Paul’s story fascinates me because it strengthens my faith in the fact that God is in charge of our lives and it gives me hope that He can make our crooked paths straight.

A friend wrote these words to me recently: “David, take time to smell the roses”. I have been thinking hard about that. There is a verse that I memorized long ago and it is making more of an impact upon me with every passing year:

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest… (Heb 4:9-11)

When I am resting in the grace of God… there is no struggle to please the Lord, it comes from the heart. Notice that the verse says “be diligent to enter that rest…”… so then resting doesn’t mean that we sit back and do nothing, the word “diligent” means that something is required of us, while allowing God to work through us.

Hopefully, 2011 will be a year of God’s righteousness reigning in place of our own.

Copyright © 2011, Pastor David A. Barlock, All rights reserved.