God's righteousness is color-blind

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

     As Black and White Zimbabweans continue struggling over President Robert Mugabe's highly controversial land seizure program, I ask that you remember God's righteousness is color-blind. Righteousness always brings justice. The opposite of righteousness is evil, wickedness, crime and wrongdoing. This color-blind teaching applies equally to all people around the world.

     So what is righteousness? Righteousness is another word for justice. This is the fiber holding society, religion and family together, enhancing the welfare of the total community. A righteous person is a person of wisdom and justice, bringing joy to their families, cities and communities of faith.

     Color-blind righteousness/justice should be our goal for all levels of society and in every area of life. This includes our relationships with God and other people. These complicated human relationships include spouses, parents and children, fellow citizens and government officials, employees and employers, and people from all races, sexual orientations, gender identities and ethnic backgrounds.

     According to Jesus, we are blessed when we are spiritually hungry and thirsty for righteousness. This holy yearning should motivate us to do God's will wholly from the heart, striving to live justly and rightly in word and deed. Mark Twain, a North American author, irreverently provides this practical and common sense insight: "Always do right. This will gratify most people, and astonish the rest."

     Zimbabweans are living in unsettling times fraught with danger. Your color-blind righteousness is the key to the healing of Zimbabwe. Let righteousness be your compass guide in the days ahead and you will never go wrong. Always do right. Your enemies might even be astonished enough to experience a change of heart. God often works in mysterious ways, using us as agents of grace and mercy in an angry, fearful world.

     Someday our blessed hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. Until that day, pray not for lighter burdens, but for stronger backs. Through your precious life, God is at work in Zimbabwe.

     Righteous God, we pray for your beloved Zimbabwe. Stop the death threats and violence, the destruction of property and all hate motivated actions and mistrust. We pray for righteousness/justice to abound throughout Zimbabwe for every citizen. We pray these things for Zimbabwe's sake, amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
August 8, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute and share this reflection with the people of Zimbabwe.