Today Shalom: The Fruit of Right Living

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Righteousness - a big word we never use

When was the last time you heard anybody – other than a preacher or Sunday School teacher – use the word righteousness?

Probably never. But the Bible uses it a lot, so it must be important.

Here's Isaiah's take on righteousness –

"The fruit of righteousness will be peace, its effect will be quietness and confidence forever." — Isaiah 32:17 NIV

When I was a kid, I remember a preacher saying that the “big word, righteousness” simply meant to do what was “right.” That’s a good shorthand definition.

Of course, you have to know what “right" is, which some folks obviously need help with. But here's a hint – "righteousness" is about more than personal morality – it is the way we live in harmony with God, with others, and with the world around us.

What it means

In other words, “righteousness” means –

-- right living – personally (after all, we know not to cheat, lie, steal, kill, covet, and so on);

-- right relationships – with family, friends, business associates, strangers, and;

-- right community – where together we do right by God, God’s created world, and all who are part of our society.

The Hebrew word for righteousness, tzedakah, carries this deeply relational meaning.

It is not simply about being virtuous in isolation, but about living the right way – honoring our commitments, treating others with fairness and kindness, and ensuring that our relationships and communities reflect God’s goodness.

So if we want to live in peace – shalom – Isaiah reminds us that true peace grows from right living. When we live with integrity, when our actions reflect God’s love, when we treat others as we ourselves want to be treated, peace naturally follows.

But when we ignore what is right – when selfishness, dishonesty, or indifference take hold – peace unravels. Which sounds a lot like the world we live in now.

If you want peace, do the right thing...

Shalom is not just an absence of conflict; it is wholeness, well-being, and the deep assurance that things are as they should be, that they are "right."

It is the quiet confidence of a life lived in alignment with God’s ways. It is the fruit of a life rooted in tzedakah – a life where relationships are nurtured, wrongs are corrected, and love guides our actions.

To walk in righteousness is to seek the flourishing of all – family, neighbor, and stranger alike. It is to be generous in spirit and steadfast in faithfulness. It is to live in a way that reflects the heart of God, knowing that where righteousness dwells, peace follows.

Here's our prayer for today --

"God of righteousness and peace, align my heart with Your ways. Let my life reflect Your goodness and love. May my words and actions bring wholeness to my relationships and community, so that I may walk in the quiet confidence of Your shalom. Amen."