I. EXORDIUM:
Are you craving after righteousness?
Yes. I like all people to be saved.
1 Timothy 2:4 (Amplified Bible)
Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers/unbelievers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that GOD rewards those who are seekers of righteousness, mercy and loving-kindness, and GOD adds more currency of Heaven to the seeker of righteousness such as life and honor
IV. TEXT:
Proverbs 21:21 (Amplified Bible)
He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor.
V. THESIS:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for the LORD JESUS seeks first His Kingdom and Righteousness, then all these things are given to me the vessel of GOD's Kingdom and GOD's Righteousness.
Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible)
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
VI. TITLE:
Crave after righteousness
VII. EXPLICATION:
VIII. MAIN BODY:
Proverbs 21:21 (Amplified Bible)
He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor.
Proverbs 21:21 (King James Version)
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
A. Follow after righteousness, mercy and loving-kindness
"He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness"
Hebrews 12:14 (Amplified Bible)
Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.
Philippians 3:12 (Amplified Bible)
Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
Proverbs 15:9 (Amplified Bible)
The way of the wicked is an abomination, extremely disgusting and shamefully vile to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (Amplified Bible)
But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.
1 Timothy 6:11 (Amplified Bible)
But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.
2 Timothy 2:22 (Amplified Bible)
Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.
Hebrews 12:14 (Amplified Bible)
Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.
Follow or "radaph" in Hebrew language meaning: to run after with hostile intent, chase, put to flight, follow after, hunt, persecute.
Follow here is a strong word then, that even persecute righteousness just to have it, we chase after righteousness, not the currency of this world which is money, but not needed in heaven. We chase after righteosness, mercy and loving-kindness which are currencies of Heaven.
B. You will find life in addition to righteousness and honor
"will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor"
Proverbs 22:4 (Amplified Bible)
The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (Amplified Bible)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible)
I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.
[As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).
1 Peter 1:7 (Amplified Bible)
So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
Life and honor are just added bonuses which money can't buy in this world. Wicked people thought that they can steal money but they ended up in prison with no life and honor. They have robbed people of money but what they don't know they first robbed themselves.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for the LORD JESUS seeks first His Kingdom and Righteousness, then all these things are given to me the vessel of GOD's Kingdom and GOD's Righteousness.
