how to be righteous in this world

…in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Psalm 15:4

There are three ways a righteous person acts toward others. These actions are commended by God in this short psalm. These descriptions give us insight into how to interact in a godly way with others around us. And the truth contained here is worth considering in all social settings today.

1. A righteous person despises those who openly oppose and reject God. The term “vile person” here means “one who treats with contempt”, a “rejector”, the old term we don’t hear much these days, “reprobate”, works well to describe this kind of person. This isn’t just any old sinner, or else we’d have to apply this principle to everyone, including ourselves. Instead, this is a person who is strongly and defiantly opposed to God. Interestingly, the word translated  “despised” also means to reject. So righteous people reject the those who violently reject God.

2. A righteous person honors those who honor and respect God. This is in contrast to the first statement. It is classic Hebrew parallel poetry. We lean into relationship with others who will acknowledge, trust, and obey God. I believe the broader principle means that human relationships will work best when all parties mutually worship God.

3. A righteous person is a keeper of promises even if they are costly. The meaning of “does not change” is consistency, honesty, and integrity. A righteous person can be trusted. Such people keep their word. And even if such integrity costs them, they maintain that integrity.

So righteous dealings with the world around us generally means that with God-haters we reject their attitudes and actions. With God-fearers we join in honor and worship of God. With our own commitments we model integrity, and when necessary, sacrifice. And it is in Jesus we see how we can do these things. He will ultimately judge the ungodly. He will reward the righteous. He Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, will keep His Word and help us to keep our word.