Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy finds life, prosperity, and honor. Proverbs 21:21, TLV

A Balanced Life.   In our quest for living a righteous life, we can sometimes hyper-focus on our works and internal examinations. So much so that when we look around us, we’re appalled at others’ behaviors. Which can then make us critical and judgmental.

I love how this proverb reminds us to have a more balanced approach to our faith and wisdom journey by including mercy in our pursuit of righteous behavior.

Mercy is defined as “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” Hmm. Feels a bit clinical. So how do we practically pursue mercy?

I came across some quotes that helped me define mercy in relation to justice and righteousness. Hope they’ll be an encouragement to you, too.

My favorite quotes:

C.S. Lewis: “Mercy detached from justice grows unmerciful.” In other words, without the verdict of “guilty,” mercy becomes a pass for sin. Before mercy can be shown, the sin/wrong needs to be clearly recognized — sometimes with repentance from that person, sometimes not. Subsequently, mercy empowers our faith journey by keeping us humble and carries more weight in the life of the other person.

Edmund Spenser: “Who will not mercy unto others show? How can he mercy ever hope to have?” In other words, our Heavenly Father first showed us mercy, how can we not show mercy to others? Forgiveness of that person is our first step toward mercy.

Joyce Meyers: “Mercy is the stuff you give to people who don’t deserve it.” No explanation necessary.

Giving mercy . . .

My favorite quote is by Pastor E. H. Chapin, “The unmerciful man [or woman] is most certainly an unblessed man. His sympathies are all dried up, he is afflicted with a chronic jaundice, and lives timidly and darkly in a little narrow rat-hole of distrust.” Okay, it’s harsh, but I love the imagery.

When all we care about is righteous behavior, we become self-righteous and judgmental. Our world — and heart — shrinks into a small and rigid stone. Our need for righteous behavior at the expense of love will suck the life out of those around us. Not a good thing. I know this personally — as the withholder and the withheld.

The pursuit of mercy balances our quest for righteousness and justice. We need the stability. When we have that, we find life, prosperity, and honor. That’s good for me, how about you?

May we find the balance of righteousness, justice, and mercy, my friends.