The Wisdom of a PeaceMaker
James 3:13-18
James
3:13-18 (ESV)
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.
1-
The Meekness of a PeaceMaker
(vs. 13)
James gives us a command.
He says that it’s not enough to do the right things
but to have the right attitude while we do them.
Practicing good conduct with meekness is a product of
godly wisdom.
James
1:5 (ESV)
If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all
without reproach, and it will be given him.
The obvious truth is that we all lack
this wisdom. Only
God can give it because He is the only One that possesses
it. If we are
to acquire this wisdom we must seek to get it from God.
Jesus Christ has these very traits.
Matthew
11:29 (ESV)
Take my yoke
upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
2-
Wisdom from Below (vss. 14-16)
We see in these verses worldly wisdom
at work. Natural wisdom is completely accomplished without
God. This is
the goal and focus of the worldly order.
Jealousy and selfish ambition are very
powerful driving forces in the heart.
Worldly wisdom will make great boasts and even lie to
promote one’s agenda.
The focus of worldly wisdom is the promotion of self
at the expense of everything else.
Paul calls these the works of the
flesh. These
works do not lead to peace and unity but to strife and
discord.
Galatians
5:19-21 (ESV)
Now the works
of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity,
sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife,
jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
[21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like
these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do
such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
3-
Wisdom from Above (vss. 17-18)
Here we see the complete opposite. Here is the work of the new nature, the nature that Christ
has given to His people.
This is the works and fruit of a PeaceMaker.
This wisdom cannot be obtained from human
accomplishments. This
is foreign to everything natural.
Again Paul gives us a very similar list
in Galatians.
Just as James contrasts the fruit of
two types of wisdom Paul contrasts the fruit of two types of
natures.
Galatians
5:22-26 (ESV)
But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness,
[23] gentleness, self-control; against such things
there is no law. [24]
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires.
A life that Christ has changed will
produce fruit of the spirit.
A life left to itself will produce fruit of the
flesh.
It has been said, peace is the garden
where peace makers sow their meekness and the harvest that
comes from such sowing is righteousness.
What kind of wisdom do you have?
Is it a worldly wisdom that is
promoting your self interests and that harvest disunity?
Or is it a godly wisdom that is given
to us by Christ and that produces a righteous PeaceMaker?
