The Give and Take of Righteousness

(Proverbs 21:26 KJV)  He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

What does it mean to be righteous?  Again I say, don’t get sidetracked into quoting “There is none righteous....”  Whatever that means it must be something different from the repeated command and expectation that we are to be righteous.  Here is another clue to what it means.

The “righteous” (6662) “giveth” (gives NASB) (5414).  He produces.  If he is at work he works hard.  If he is playing he gives his best. 

Giving is the opposite of “coveteth” (craving NASB) (183).  Being an asset to the community is a part of righteousness.  The opposite, identified in the previous verse, is slothful.  If you want to be a child of God, if you want to be like Jesus, if you want to go to heaven you cannot be a habitual taker.

This is a theme that reverberates through Proverbs.  Some people want to take.  Check out the passage in chapter 30 that has this verse.

(Proverbs 30:15 KJV)  The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

So?  Are you always whining that life is not fair?  Are you always expecting others to provide your “needs.”  Obviously I am not talking about someone who is in a sudden emergency or someone who is permanently bed-fast.  Not so obviously I may be talking about you when you get a government, church or family subsidy for your rent or food.  Be honest with God and yourself.  My opinion really doesn’t matter.