Wang Qixian: Talking about benevolence and righteousness

Wang Qixian: Talking about benevolence and righteousness "Speaking of benevolence and righteousness" is a sentence in the Mencius volume in the Four Books, when Mencius saw King Hui of Liang talking to each other. The king said: "The old man (old gentleman) has come from a thousand miles away...

Wang Qixian: Talking about benevolence and righteousness "Speaking of benevolence and righteousness" is a sentence in the Mencius volume in the Four Books, when Mencius saw King Hui of Liang talking to each other. The king said: "The old man (old gentleman) has come thousands of miles away, will he be able to benefit our country?" Mencius said to him: "King, why do you need to say benefit? There is also righteousness. It's already huge!" (It means: Mencius went to Liang to meet King Hui. King Hui met Mencius and said: Old sir, you are not afraid of traveling a thousand miles here. Is there any good way to "benefit" our country? Mencius replied: Why does the king talk about the word "benefit"? But we still have "benevolence and righteousness" to talk about. If the ministers of the country do not talk about benevolence and righteousness, but talk about "benefit" first, then he will not be satisfied if he does not take away the throne of the monarch in the future. As for "benevolence and righteousness", it is much more beneficial. Mencius was born in Zouxian County, Shandong Province in 289 BC, and was a disciple of Zi Si (Zi Si was the grandson of Confucius). He died in 372 BC at the age of 84. Shandong people have a saying to describe human lifespan: "If you can survive 73 years old, you can live to 84 years old." Because Confucius lived to 73 years old and Mencius lived to 84 years old, the sayings 73 and 84 are born. Legend has it that Mao Zedong boasted in his later years: I will live longer than the "lesser sage" Mencius. As a result, he did not survive and died at the age of 83. Mencius and his students wrote seven chapters of Mencius. His doctrine "respects kings and despises hegemons, emphasizes benevolence and righteousness over utilitarianism, creates good ideas, and believes that everyone can become Yao and Shun." Therefore, later generations called him "The Lesser Sage." Proverb: "If you treat me unkindly, I will treat you unjustly!" Shi Jian's "Three Character Classic": It says benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trust. These five constants cannot be messed up. (Meaning: Benevolence is the principle of love; the virtue of the heart! Righteousness is the right thing to do, and it must not be disordered at all. From these words, it is clear that people, whether they are stupid or unkind, have already had the concept of benevolence and righteousness. Why bother to explain this benevolence and righteousness more? However, the great Confucian sage Cheng Zi once said: "Zhongni only said the word benevolence, while Mencius spoke of benevolence and righteousness when he opened his mouth." As everyone knows, the source of what Mencius said at the beginning, "There is only benevolence and righteousness," came from Confucius. In the second chapter of the Book of Changes, he said: "The way to establish a person is benevolence and righteousness." Mencius started talking about benevolence and righteousness. The great love of the Lord Jesus was nailed to the cross as a propitiation. This is how He demonstrates the way to establish people. Just as Confucius said: "The benevolent love others." The poem goes: "His righteousness endures forever (Psalm 112:9). And 2 Corinthians 9:9 also quotes this verse. This kind and righteousness is the way to establish a person, and the two are indispensable. The so-called human beings are living people, not dead people. The dead will be resurrected, and those who believe will live forever, otherwise they will die forever. Resurrection is in the Lord. He establishes himself and establishes others. Humanity and righteousness are nothing more than this. Daniel in the Old Testament also knew that he had prayed for the Lord's mercy and righteousness for Jerusalem (Dan. 9:16). Another example is the explanation of Melchizedek's name: "His first name is translated as King of Righteousness." (Hebrews 7:2) It is continued in verse three: "Like the Son of God"! It can be seen that Melchizedek is only like the Son of God; and the real King of Righteousness is our Lord, Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christians must rely on Him to "receive the fruit of righteousness" (Philippians 1:11). We must know that "He who gives food to the sower will multiply the seed of his planting, so that they may be enriched in the fruit of righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10)." Since we are rich, we should give in everything and give thanks to God! How wonderful is this righteousness. Since the Lord of righteousness has been righteous to us, we should be justified by faith and fall into the embrace of His great mercy and love. In fact, we are all the fruits of God’s righteousness! Come! Let us join hands and bear fruit together in the grace of the Lord, and let the fruits of righteousness fill the branches (bodies) to offer to God. This is the fruit of the righteousness of the Holy Spirit that glorifies God and benefits people.