Harvesting Righteousness Through Peace
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James 3:16-18
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
OK. I admit it: I was going to begin with a rant about the current governmental leadership, the world leaders, the UN, just about everybody and every organization in power in the world today. I certainly do feel selfish ambition and other “human” pursuits have influenced the world situations today. No one party or country is more to blame than another. I’ve bemoaned the wars and the genocide, the corruption and the blatant disregard for morality and even for human life on the world scene. The media reports on it all 24/7. There are not too many signs of peace to look forward to in the coming year, are there?
Then I caught myself short. These verses apply to
me and
my life. James is talking about my jealously and selfish ambition. James wants me to take a long hard look at my life and repent. James encourages me to seek out the certainty of Christ’s resurrection and the sincerity of His death. Sow peace and righteousness. He’s saying, “Stop ranting about the world, and look at yourself. Stop clucking your tongue and shaking your head at the corruption, violence, starvation, genocide and every other “vile practice” and examine your own heart.”
James suggests that were I more gentle and open to reason, I would show more mercy and love. When I turn over the state of the world to the one who created it in the first place, I can then focus on myself and my own life. Am I the best person possible? Am I doing enough in my own life to make the world a better place? Am I setting aside my own wants and desires to tend to the needs of others? Am I sowing peace?
It’s so much easier to look at the world, though. The worldly and world-wide vision doesn’t really require us to change ourselves. After all, how can my attitude and lifestyle make a difference in Africa or Iraq or anywhere else? Jesus himself even said to give to Caesar what is Caesar's—let the world be what the world will be. God has the big stuff under control. Focus on our own lives and how we live. Look within to see if we have mastered living and thinking and speaking peaceably, gently, reasonably, and if we are merciful and sincere. That’s much more difficult, and perhaps even painful.
Jesus hung on the Cross, though, to bear the pain with us. He wants us to dig deeper, to look at the core of our beings and change what needs to be changed. His courage was enough for us all. We can do it. We only need to make the attempt. God will sustain us through the rest. Then we will begin to change the world for the better. When we become better people, we influence everyone we meet. Then they influence everyone they meet. Then the world begins to change, one person at a time.
My prayer today is that you examine your heart and banish any selfish ambition and jealousy. And that you sow peace along the way of your travels.
Mary
