Live Well, Live Wisely

 

Scripture: James 3:13-18 (ESV)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Devotion:

            In these brief words James introduces us to true godly wisdom. James began this chapter by admonishing his readers that few should aspire to be teachers. Teachers are to be held to a stricter accounting for the words that they utter when instructing believers. Likewise, here James is admonishing the wise and learned among the people to make their wisdom and learning plain not only in word but in deed also. Those who claim to be wise and learned among the people are to give evidence of their wisdom and learning through each and every act that they perform so that the people will have proof of their wisdom and learning.

            James, then goes on to contrast the wise and understanding people with those who harbor jealousy and selfish ambition in their hearts. This kind of “wisdom” comes not from heaven but is a direct import from the devil in hell. It is extremely easy for Christians especially Christian leaders to fall into this trap of Satan. Many leaders become prideful when God grants their ministry success in attracting large crowds and lots of followers. Comparing your ministry against another is a symptom of a jealous heart. James could not have foreseen modern day social media. This is where the jealousy and selfish ambition show their ugly heads so often in these days. The careful watch we pay to views, likes, and follows on social media can be a deadly trap if not carefully put in context of the God’s plan for a ministry.

            Then James returns to give examples of wisdom that comes from heaven. The list seems straightforward but putting these qualities into practice is hard. We come to a full stop after the first item in the list “pure.” In today’s culture being truly pure in its meaning in the Greek means free from any moral spot or stain. Who of us can say that we are perfectly pure on our own. So, we see from the very beginning this wisdom is going to require that God give us these gifts. Left to our own devices we would fail miserably. The rest of the list does not get any easier. We have peaceable, gentle, open to reason, merciful, full of good fruits, impartial and sincere all of which must come to us as gifts from God in his infinite grace. James concludes that if we have this kind of wisdom, we will reap a harvest of peace. All one has to do is look around us to see that peace is in truly short supply in this world. Let us pray for the wisdom from above.

Prayer:

            Dear Heavenly Father, you see this world and she is in trouble. The world by and large has rebelled against you and your wisdom. The outcome has been war, crime, addiction, suicide, homicide, and all other manner of evil that the heart of man influenced by the devil can devise. Help those of us who seek to follow your wisdom in our lives to be examples of peace in this old world. May each of us contribute in some small way to bringing your kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Let us seek to follow you in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Amen.