Eph 6:14 (NIV) Stand firm then, ... with the breastplate of righteousness in place. We have already looked at the issue of righteousness in the beatitudes. The way to get the breastplate of righteousness on, keep it on, and make sure it is a high quality breastplate is to hunger and thirst for righteousness. What we are looking at is an intense desire to have a certain set of attitudes that Jesus considers to be righteousness.

Mat 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

We can’t be hungering and thirsting for the business, sports, and relationship principles of the world or we will already be satisfied and full of them. Righteousness is God’s way of life that sees to it that our problems are being solved and our needs are being met; and, it is done by us seeing to it that EVERYONE’S needs are being met. If we don’t put the breastplate of righteousness on, we will use people, walk over the top of people, cheat them, lie to them, take things that belong to them, and refuse to share with them.

Righteousness is a lifestyle that puts people above things. We and the people around us become more important to us than making sure we possess the basic supplies for our physical needs. The breastplate of righteousness goes over our chest (the place where we feel compassion and concern). When it is put on, it protects us from selfishness that fights our good feelings and good acts that care for people more than money and what it can buy.

Mat 6:33 (NIV) But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these THINGS will be given to you as well.

“All these THINGS” is talking about the basic “necessities” of life. It is talking about, food, clothing, and lodging. This can be a real challenge. What we are going to wear, where we are going to sleep, and what we are going to eat can be a powerful driving force. Whether we are in a country where there is an abundance or in a country where there is mostly poverty, these are considered to be necessities of life. At times they feel like they have to be our number one concern. However, this Scripture is saying that putting God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness (caring for the needs of ourselves AND others) as our number one desire causes these things to be given to us THROUGH Jesus.

There’s a reason why Jesus, through the Bible, couples together the issues righteousness and the cares of life on this planet. The breastplate of righteousness is put on or taken off based on which of these two things are being hungered and thirsted after.

How we go about getting our basic physical needs met is the big issue here. Do we go straight to the process of getting our needs met; or, do we go through Jesus? Do we allow Him to take on the responsibility of seeing to it that our basic needs are met? If we skip Him, we will start seeking the necessary money so we can buy the things we need. If we go through Him, He will start transforming our goals and attitudes so we know what to do with money and things once we get them.

We have to have money and things; but, the issue is, how do we go about getting them. Our priorities and characteristics decide which system we use. If we decide to go straight for the money we need to buy the things we need, we will end up serving money and leaving our breastplate of righteousness off. Whether we want to, mean to, or not, we will find ourselves in a master/slave relationship with money. And, we will be unprotected by this piece of armor. If we decide to go through Jesus to get our basic needs met, we will end up submitting to His way of life. His way will see to it that our basic needs are being met WHILE others are getting their basic needs met through us. This causes the breastplate of righteousness to be installed on us.

Mat 6:24-25 (NIV) No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Jesus considers our life and our body to be more important than food and clothes. If we go His way and thereby put on the breastplate of righteousness, then money and the other necessities of life will have to come through Him. When that happens, He helps us to be able to identify with the problems and needs of others. Our first priority doesn’t become getting OUR needs met; our priority grows into a desire to make sure EVERYONE’S needs are met. But, learning how to get all these things from Jesus can be a very confusing issue. We have all seen how the world gets their needs met. All we have to do is go out and get ourselves a job. Maybe we pray first; but, then we go out and get ourselves a job. All Christians do that. How else can it be done?