Connect360: The Search for Righteousness

• Lesson 8 in the Connect360 unit “The Search for Wisdom: Words to Live By” focuses on Proverbs 14:34.

To know the truth and find righteousness, we must look to God. As intelligent and relational people, we may reason things out in our own minds or ask a friend or family member when we are trying to decide the right course of action. But God should always be the first one we ask. Any advice or reason must be filtered through what God says in his Word and through his Spirit. By reading the Bible, attending church and praying, we hear from God. Then we can live out what we know.

Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous judgments is everlasting.” God’s Word is the only way to know absolute truth and find his righteousness. So, it should always be the first place we look. We should read and listen to Scripture being taught, while also talking it over with other believers. Christian teaching, fellowship and encouragement are so important to our faith. Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another” (NKJV).

Praying helps us understand what we read and guides us in truth and righteousness. When Jesus walked this earth, the people followed and learned from him directly. He knew they would feel lost when he went to be with the Father.

So, Jesus comforted them by explaining that God would send the Holy Spirit in his place. The Holy Spirit could guide and teach everyone, at the same time, forever, unlike Jesus who could only teach those who were physically with him (See John 14:26, 16:7, 13). When we pray, this Helper and Spirit of Truth helps us discern the ways of God, too.

By meditating on God’s Word, it is more firmly established. Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” When we continuously think about good things, they begin to flow from our minds to our hearts.

Our hearts need to be filled with goodness because whatever is in our heart is reflected in our words and actions. Luke 6:45 says, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” So, if we fill our heart and mind with truth and goodness, then it will begin to pour out of us.

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