Day #17: Too Much Religion

So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed. Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time. It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings. (Ec 7:16-18)

I am convinced that Solomon wrote proverbs in a way to grab your attention.  Some had shock value, others were a bit comical.  Some were puzzlers.  This verse has a little of everything.  Do not be excessively righteous.  What on earth is he getting at?  If you are, you might be disappointed!  Why would a overly righteous person be disappointed?  Maybe you can think of some reasons.

Excessively Righteous?

First, a truly righteous person cannot be too righteous, unless we are talking about being righteous in the eyes of men.  If we mean righteous before God, then there is no such thing as too much righteousness.  Do I need to quote numerous verses throughout Scripture to support my point?  However, there is a type of religious performance that is phony.

But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. (2 Timm 3:1-5)

But I'm not sure this is what Solomon had in mind.  He may not be referring to the religious hypocrite.  He might be talking about the legalistic zealot.  Whoever this person is, they "might be disappointed".  That's an important clue.  If they are doing their righteousness before men, they will be disappointed…

Jesus said, “Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven." (Mt 6:1)

Secondly, we might ask, can the righteous person, who is trying to please God in his own efforts, ever be disappointed?  Absolutely.  Which of us, by our own meritorious acts, can hope to please a holy and perfectly righteous God?

We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind. (Isa 64:6)

In the New Testament we learn that we can attain true righteousness not through works but through faith.  It is Christ's righteousness imputed to us.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

When God looks at us, He sees the perfect sinless Christ.  For those who trust in Him we receive His righteousness as a gift.  No amount of good works can earn for us the righteousness that He gives as a free gift by faith.

Certainly, as Solomon said, if we are trying to attain righteousness by our own efforts, then we can be too righteous.  If we receive Christ as an act of faith, we will be perfectly righteous.

Excessively Wicked!

 

Notice the warning to those who are excessively wicked.  They may die before their time. In other words, beware the dangers of wickedness. Also, a quick reading might lead you to the wrong conclusion.  He is not saying to hold onto wickedness.  His admonition is to hold tightly to the warning.  There is a big difference.  Solomon is not encouraging wickedness, but he is promoting a higher way of living- to fear God.


Questions to consider:

  1. Do you think it is possible to be too religious? 
  2. Why is it impossible to earn righteousness by our good works?
  3. Why is Christ's righteousness a free gift? What did it cost Jesus?
  4. What are the dangers associated with wickedness?

 Read on to Day #18

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