No one is righteous by accident. The right view of God, self, and sin and the right use of your will do not happen by blind chance or dumb luck. It is purposeful. You gotta wanna.
In the fourth beatitude, Jesus tells of the passion that is necessary to being righteous: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
Hunger and thirst. These two innate, physical desires are not passing and whimsical; they are powerful and constant. They are continual evidence of life and health. They are essential to proper physical growth and development.
Later in this same sermon, Jesus explicitly states the priority righteousness has in the righteous. He commands, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Being right with God, being right with your fellow man, being right with yourself is top priority. It is that passion for righteousness which is blessed. It is that passion which God promises to gorge in satisfaction.
How keen is your desire for righteousness?
You gotta wanna.
