Honorable Pursuits

Read Proverbs 21

Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

The world is full of pursuits that seem worthy. However, we can easily spend too much time seeking out those pursuits that are the most elusive, such as financial security, fame, or power. At times, we even “catch” what we are pursuing, only to find that it cannot satisfy our desires. To adapt one of Jesus’ warnings, we may catch the whole world, but if we’ve left our soul behind in the process, we’ve actually lost everything (see Matthew 16:24-26).

According to this proverb, there are some goals worth pursuing in life—righteousness and unfailing love. The first points to the quality of our relationship with God. To pursue righteousness is to desire to reflect God’s character, to pursue God himself. The second points to the quality of our human relationships. To pursue unfailing love is to strive to love our neighbor as ourselves.

God promises us that if we pursue these goals, we will find the true worth of life and gain what we can never lose.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Worthwhile pursuits include valuable by-products.

Today, Lord, teach me to follow hard after you. Excite my heart to desire your righteousness and unfailing love.