Choosing Righteousness before Convenience
July 7, 2023•329 words
Choosing Righteousness before Convenience
From this order we may further gather that justice and good conscience ought to move us to do our duty more than our own profit and the benefit that returns to us. If there should come such an opposition between these that they could not both stand together, but that for doing that which is right, and which God has commanded, our prosperity must be hindered and life shortened, we should stick with what is right and commanded of God, even though prosperity, life and all be let go. All the exhortations in Scripture tend to this purpose, to forsake goods, lands, life, and everything else for righteousness’ sake. So clear is this point, that the pagans discerned it by the glimpse of that light of nature which they had, for they could say that that which is honest and right is to be chosen above that which is convenient and profitable.
There is no comparison between justice and convenience, right and profit. The one is absolutely necessary for attaining to eternal salvation, the other gives but a little quiet and contentment in this world. Nay, if profit is without right, it can give no true contentment or quiet at all.
Therefore, those who so wholly and only aim at their outward profit and prosperity, that they do not regard what is right and what God has commanded, are unworthy of the name of Christians. If by obeying God, and doing that which is right they may reap some benefit to themselves, they can be content to yield to it, but if not, farewell all right, farewell all God’s commandments. Though they think everything that is profitable to be good, be it right or wrong, yet God’s Word counts nothing good but that which is right. Such therefore can look for no blessing from the Lord.
—William Gouge. Building a Godly Home Vol. 1: A Holy Vision for Family Life (Kindle Locations 2667-2679). Kindle Edition.