Do not be overly righteous

[Mister]

Ecc 7:16
This is different than self-righteousness, no? How would one quantify, "overly righteous"? And how does one separate that from loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? And how does one disconnect from righteousness in Christ? I also see in Ecc 7:18 that the fear of God drives us from extremism. Does any have any practical examples of this? Were any of you once overly righteous?

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Ecc 7:16
This is different than self-righteousness, no? How would one quantify, "overly righteous"? And how does one separate that from loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? And how does one disconnect from righteousness in Christ? I also see in Ecc 7:18 that the fear of God drives us from extremism. Does any have any practical examples of this? Were any of you once overly righteous?

How can one be overly righteous? Isn't that like saying we can be overly holy? We ARE the righteousness of God in the anointing

 

[Mister]

I am trying to understand this:
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
[15]All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
[16]Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
[17]Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
[18]It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

 

[Brad Huber]

Ecc 7:16
This is different than self-righteousness, no? How would one quantify, "overly righteous"? And how does one separate that from loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? And how does one disconnect from righteousness in Christ? I also see in Ecc 7:18 that the fear of God drives us from extremism. Does any have any practical examples of this? Were any of you once overly righteous?

I would only avoid the overly righteous actions of those "being" righteous, but thinking themselves serving God by condemning others who may have it coming (the exception when God through revelation specifically wants you to), but as scripture says "to show mercy". Think on the woman caught in harlotry. According to the law, she should have been stoned, but Jesus had mercy and simply told her, "go and sin no more". Jesus is only recorded being condemning toward the religious leaders. Plus Jesus shared meals with sinners and tax collectors, and when confronted by this, said that He did not come to those who were righteous who were well, but like a doctor, to the sick, the sinful, to heal them and set them on the right path through kindness and compassion and mercy.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

My contribution to the discussion.

When I think about Righteousness, or how we are Righteous, I'm reminded that we have no Righteousness apart from Jesus

Jesus is our Righteousness. We are Righteous because of Jesus, and we receive HIS Righteousness through Faith which allows
HIS Holy Spirit to live a Righteous life in us.

It is the Holy Spirit that leads and guides and counsels and brings forth the Fruits of the Spirit.

So if one if finding themselves "overly Righteous" that is because they are trying to "work" at it and not surrendering
and submitting and letting the Holy Spirit take control.

When the Holy Spirit is leading we can never to "too Righteous" because the only Righteous one is Jesus, and we have NO righteousness
apart from HIM (faith in Him through his Holy Spirit).

So if ever one is too Righteous, that is a function and result of trying and working at Righteousness.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

Think about being funny for example. Some people are just plain funny, they don't have to "work" at it. When they work at it or try to script their jokes
then they end up trying "too hard" and lose the funniness they are pursuing.

The Pharisees tried to be Righteous by working at it, this led to legalism.

So you can't be too Righteous (I think) because none of us can exceed the Holiness of Jesus and the degree
to which we will be Righteous is the degree to which we humble ourselves and move self out of the way.

Those who are the most Righteous are those who bow the lowest before God and empty themselves of SELF, so that
when people see them they are getting more of Jesus and less of them.

 

[Mister]

So then one would be destroyed by their being overly righteous then, by not trusting in the Savior Jesus Christ, but themselves. A stumbling block.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

So then one would be destroyed by their being overly righteous then, by not trusting in the Savior Jesus Christ, but themselves. A stumbling block.

Yes, one would be on the wrong path.