Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Avoid Envy and Selfish Ambition

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ

Jesus' Humility and Exaltation

James 3:13-18

The Message

Live Well, Live Wisely

13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

For Reflection
Don't tell me what you are going to do.  Just do it.  If it is authentic, you will represent God well.

Don't tell me what I should do.  It assumes that you are so wise as to know what God intends for me.  And furthermore, it assumes that what I am is not as valuable as what you are.

God's wisdom begins with love and hospitality.  God's wisdom protects one's right to choose.  God is found in mutual respect, dignity and honor.

Pray
that your wittiness to your God-centered life is clothed in humility.  Pray that you will be consistently gentle, merciful and hospitable.

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