A Harvest of Righteousness

The People of God Set Priorities
Bearing One Another's Burdens
An Appeal for Reconciliation

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

How do others know you?  What is your reputation?  Are you considered fair? trustworthy? competent? wise? humble? compassionate?

You are known by what you say, what you do, and what others say about you.  It is the only thing you truly own and the one thing of which you have little control.  All you can do is be consistent in treating others with dignity, honor and in humility.  You may not be able to control the perception of others, but you can control your willingness to forgive and your constant pursuit of righteous living.

 

Pray

for opportunities to find wisdom, to prove trust, to be just and fair minded, to be compassionate and humble.  Pray to forgive others who misrepresent you.  Pray to be consistent in your pursuit of a God-centered life.