From the Book, Rules For Life: According To Jesus

8. Live Righteously Before Men 

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Mathew 5:13-16

If you (as a believer in Christ) are not living out your faith in Him before others; if you are not holding firm to His commands and displaying them for all to see; if you join in with others who are living in sin; if you act no differently than anyone who does not have Christ living in them, then you are no representative of His on Earth. You are the kind of “salt” that is only good for being trampled on in the snow. Your light of Christ is hidden and does no one any good at all. And this dark world needs His light.

With that put out there, notice that He commands righteousness, not self-piety. He wants you to be genuinely good and not someone who goes around condemning others. Displaying Christ’s righteousness is very different from displaying your own self-righteousness. 

The righteousness that Christ wants us to display is the kind that is born out of love. Remember what Paul said about love? 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

THIS is what Jesus means when He says to let your righteousness shine before men. 

Paul had a similar message to the believers in Galatia:

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Galatians 5:19-26

I would add to not be gossiping, condemning, or judging. Let the true light shine — the light of love.

Previous – Remain in Jesus | Next – Avoid Bad Influences

Sections in this study:
Introduction
1: Repent
2: Be Born Again
3: Place God First
4: Love and Serve One Another
5: Live By Faith
6: Forgive Others
7: Remain in Jesus
8: Live Righteously Before Men
9: Avoid Bad Influences
10: Stay On The Narrow Path
11: Do Not Return Evil With Evil
12: Give More Than Is Demanded
13: Love Your Enemies
14: Check Your Motives
15: Pray Simply
16: Do Not Worry
17: Store Up Treasures In Heaven
18: Do Not Be Judgmental
19: Guard what is Sacred
20: Care For Those In Distress
21: Do Not Swear Oaths
22: Watch out for false prophets
23: Exercise Spiritual Power
24: Have Childlike Faith
25: Do Not Exalt Yourself
26: Settle Disputes Quickly
27: Settle Disputes Between Believers
28: Do not Oppose Brethren
29: Remember Me
30: Be Merciful
31: Make Disciples
32: Be Ready
33: Obey Jesus’ Commands
Closing Comments