Godly Wisdom
I love this passage. I was reminded this weekend in an amazing talk given by Frank Peretti, how much we seek to shortcut the process of gaining wisdom in our lives. We want truth, wisdom, knowledge, but don't want to spend the time we need in order to gain it. We somehow expect God to sprinkle us with fairy dust and magically fill us with all the truth, knowledge, and wisdom we will ever need. While I will never put God in a box and say He CAN'T provide this way, there are principles in His word that show it is not His 'norm' to do so.
I love how practical James is here. He gives a great contrast between what it looks like to be wise and understand God's ways by living a life of honor by doing good works with humility (which actually comes from wisdom). On the other hand, if our lives are filled with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, James first tells us to not try to cover it up. Have you ever noticed that when we are doing something we know we shouldn't (whether that is hidden sin, or something more outward such as drug or alcohol addiction), we become boastful and try to cover up what's going on? It is incredibly painful to be truly humble, transparent, and allow our brothers and sisters to hold us accountable. But James is clear here, this type of behavior is 'earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. He doesn't mess around. Why? Because we only get one chance to live this life. One chance to let God live through us in a way that will draw others to Him. Because God has a life for us that is so much better than living in jealousy and selfish ambition. Proverbs 27:19 says, "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person." We might like to think we are covering up what's going on, but it shows through more than we think.
In contrast, we are to live a life of peace, humbly serving others, willingly yielding to others (which can be my greatest struggle). We are to show mercy, and treat all people with equal respect, love, and care. We are to choose to be peacemakers, planting seeds of peace rather than being argumentative and self-seeking, When our lives are lived out in this way, we will point others to Him; and one day, we will get to reap a harvest of righteousness, and in the end... God is honored, and that is the best thing we can ever do with our lives.
I love how practical James is here. He gives a great contrast between what it looks like to be wise and understand God's ways by living a life of honor by doing good works with humility (which actually comes from wisdom). On the other hand, if our lives are filled with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, James first tells us to not try to cover it up. Have you ever noticed that when we are doing something we know we shouldn't (whether that is hidden sin, or something more outward such as drug or alcohol addiction), we become boastful and try to cover up what's going on? It is incredibly painful to be truly humble, transparent, and allow our brothers and sisters to hold us accountable. But James is clear here, this type of behavior is 'earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. He doesn't mess around. Why? Because we only get one chance to live this life. One chance to let God live through us in a way that will draw others to Him. Because God has a life for us that is so much better than living in jealousy and selfish ambition. Proverbs 27:19 says, "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person." We might like to think we are covering up what's going on, but it shows through more than we think.
In contrast, we are to live a life of peace, humbly serving others, willingly yielding to others (which can be my greatest struggle). We are to show mercy, and treat all people with equal respect, love, and care. We are to choose to be peacemakers, planting seeds of peace rather than being argumentative and self-seeking, When our lives are lived out in this way, we will point others to Him; and one day, we will get to reap a harvest of righteousness, and in the end... God is honored, and that is the best thing we can ever do with our lives.
