Give It Time (Wisdom from Above Part 4)
Give it Tme
Wisdom from Above Part 4
Once a decision has been made, the outcome is then to be seen. In middle school, we all had to participate in a science fair. We made a display of our experiments which were all based on a hypothesis, or an assumption as to what would happen when we tested our theories. Would the volcano erupt or lay dormant? Would the pet goldfish change shape or color? Would the plant flourish or wither? Ultimately, various elements and factores in relationship to one another were proven by their results over time.
In our final installment on James 3:13-18 we've come to our final verse:
“And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Two observations:
Godly wisdom is proven in community with others. Both prior to this wisdom section and after James is addressing relationships between believers as they live in fellowship with one another. Before, he has diagnosed the relational impact of the inner life of the believer as is manifest in words spoken. After, he addresses the wrongful passions of the heart as key to understanding strife in the believing community. In contrast, and as remedy, he says that peace sown is the means to righteousness enjoyed.
True, godly peace between brothers and sisters in Christ cannot come about without true, godly wisdom. Godly wisdom is proven in the relationships between believers.
What decisions are you working through right now? Are you looking for a way forward that is peaceful and will ultimately highlight the righteousness of God? How can you actively fight for peace by involving your brothers and sisters in Christ into your decision making?
2. Godly wisdom is proven over time. Good seed reproduces good fruit. Jesus words and works were doubted by the religious leaders, so Jesus says this, "Wisdom is justified by all her children." What he was doing and saying made little sense to those who had a self-righteous motivation. However, those who sought the kingdom of God and His righteousness, believed and became part of a community of Jesus' disciples.
What will the 'children' of your decisions look like over time? In James agricultural analogy, decisions made with godly wisdom will be righteousness. Will other committed Christians who know you well say that you made a decision in view of righteousness more than anything else?
May God grant you his wisdom for the decisions you make every day whether they feel big or small. May his Spirit adjust your thinking to pursue peace with others in pursuit of the righteousness of God. May the Lord satisfy you with his peace and his righteousness. And may we all forsake the empty satisfaction of any other motivation.
Praying for your godly wisdom in Christ,
Loren