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Ramadan Mubarak, Day 3: The Futility of Righteousness

How the attainment of true moral goodness is elusive at best

by Steve Schlichter

 

Abu Huraira reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, “There were two women, each of whom had a child with her. A wolf came and took one of their children, but the other woman said: it has taken your child. The first woman said: no, rather, it has taken your child. ... and then both of them went to Solomon son of David and told him about the matter. He said: bring me a knife so I can cut the child into two pieces and distribute it among them. The young lady said: do not do so, may Allah have mercy on you, because it is her child. Therefore, Solomon gave the child to the young lady.” - Sahih Bukhari 3244
 

King Solomon was known for being wise. In this famous story Solomon was approached by two women that both claimed the same child. He was able to tell which was the real mother by threatening to cut the child in half. The real mother is the one who loved the child more than her love of being a mother. Solomon recorded some of his wisdom in a book called Ecclesiastes (in the Old Testament).  

One nugget is what he says about righteousness. On the face of it; it appears to be a bit of a platitude. something that goes without saying. Actually, it is quite a profound statement.
    
    "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. " - Ecclesiastes 7:20 

It would be pretty evident if Solomon was saying that even good people make mistakes. However, this is not exactly the idea and that idea would not really have been worth recording for over 2 millennia because it is self evident to everyone.

The idea that Solomon is bringing to us is that no person (while doing good) is only doing good. Even his good is mixed with sin. Good intentions could be mixed with a lack of determination. Good determination could be mixed with bad motives. Good motives can be mixed with bad behavior. The good we do is always less than perfect.

Jesus directs us to take this into account when we engage in spiritual exercises like fasting and praying. He reminds us that God is our audience.

when giving to the needy...

 

“do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in  secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. - Matthew 6:4 

   
when praying...

 

“you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at  the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their  reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is  in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."  - Matthew 6:5-6 

    
when fasting...

 

 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that  their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But  when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others  but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."  -  Matthew 6:16-18

In fact, the most zealously religious people of his time were the Pharisees. They prayed, fasted, gave to the poor, but they did so with mixed motives. Like Solomon says, no person is good before God. Paul tells us that "no one is righteous, not even one. No one seeks God" (Rom 3:9-10).

Jesus goes on to say...

 

 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  - Matthew 5:20

Wait! How can we be more righteous than those that adhere to the law to the tee? They are the most righteous. They pray, they fast, they give. they are respected. They are leaders. Yet, you cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven unless you are more righteous than them? This should bring you to the point of despair. All my work. Time spent praying, fasting, serving, teaching, helping the poor, religious practices and rituals and I still cannot be righteous enough.

Give up! In that same passage, Solomon tells us as much.

 

 "Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?  " - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Since we cannot be good enough. Since we cannot stand and be righteous before God, then we need to quit trying. Quit destroying yourself by putting stock in your own righteousness. Jesus offers an out.

 

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

The only way to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, to be morally righteous, is to give up trying to impress God with your own efforts and accept the righteousness that God supplies through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus says that he is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to God except thru him. The only true righteousness is that which comes from God.


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