Proverbs 17:26

26      Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
-Proverbs 17:6

I have found it to be an unfortunately common thing that righteousness is often punished. We do what is right and find that there is no desire for righteousness to be had and we are punished for it. We see it in things like peer pressure. We experience it in work places and schools. We even experience it in families and among our closest friends. I find that another part of this remains to be true; righteousness is rarely rewarded. We also think in these terms. Doing what is right is simply meeting the standard. Failure deserves punishment, but success does not warrant reward. How disappointing would it be if that was the way that the Lord viewed our state? Instead He looks to reward righteousness and punish all disobedience. May we take upon the mantle of looking to reward righteousness and celebrate the wins.