4d • Wisdom
What’s Your Pursuit?
‘He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.’ Proverbs 21:21
Proverbs 21:21 gives a simple but profound picture of pursuit. Life does not drift toward godliness by accident; it moves in the direction of whatever it follows. To “follow after” righteousness and mercy means to chase them deliberately, to consider them worthy enough to shape decisions, attitudes, and relationships. God promises that those who pursue such a path will not merely find moral improvement but will discover life itself—life in its fullness, righteousness in its divine approval, and honor that comes not from man but from God.
Scripture echoes this pattern of pursuit. Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Hunger implies desperation, not casual interest. Paul urges believers in 1 Timothy 6:11, “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness,” showing that following righteousness is a continual chase, not a one-time decision. Hosea 6:6 reveals God’s heart: “I desired mercy, and not sacrifice.” Pursuing righteousness without mercy becomes cold religion; pursuing mercy without righteousness becomes empty sentiment. The Lord requires both, woven together in a life shaped by His character.
Practically, Proverbs 21:21 confronts us with a question: What are we following after? Not what do we claim to value, but what does our daily pursuit reveal? When we chase possessions, approval, or pleasure, we cannot expect to find the life and honor that only God gives. But when we choose righteousness in secret places, when we extend mercy in difficult situations, when we allow God to shape our reactions rather than our impulses, we step into the path where His blessings naturally meet us. This verse reminds us that God does not reward spiritual passivity—He honors pursuit. And the one who follows after righteousness and mercy will find that the God they pursue is already running toward them with life, approval, and honor beyond anything the world can offer.
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What’s Your Pursuit?
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