Joy in the city

https://odb.org/2024/04/08/joy-in-the-city

Proverbs 11:10 teaches that when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices. I think not so much that the city is happy for the prosperity of the righteous but more the fact they know that the blessings of the heavens are opened to also bring prosperity to the city. The righteous prosper because God is with them. The providence of God follows them. People are fearful of divine retribution, but they rejoice in divine providence.

Thus, when God blesses us as the righteous, He blesses our family, our church, and our community. Everyone will be impacted one way or another. That is why when Christ is accepted in poor urban neighbourhoods or ghettos, entire neighbourhoods may be transformed over a generation or two. With Christ in their lives, they turn away from cigarettes, booze, drugs, and crime. They turn to regular jobs. Their children grow up with proper education, and some become lawyers, engineers, doctors, IT professionals, and proper businessmen. From poverty to working class to middle class. That’s the wonderful thing about God working in our lives, in families and communities.

It is not wrong, in my view, to postulate that the pursuit of righteousness is one of the better ways to elevate the standard of living of families and neighbourhoods as righteousness brings divine blessings and providence. It doesn’t mean that we will not face life challenges. But as a people, we will become stronger and more resilient in the face of difficulty and adversity because God is with us.

The message this morning is to always pursue righteousness in all that we do. As the righteous propers, the city rejoices!