¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. ¹⁸ And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:13-18

Dear God, this passage, which is the verse of the day from Bible Gateway, reminds me of the Bible study I taught last night about Saul. He was so concerned about his own self-image and selfishness instead of really seeking you that it corrupted nearly everything he did. As I was pointing out last night, David had a lot of the same struggles Saul had. He lied. He cheated. He schemed. But the huge difference is that he sought you. He wanted you. He wanted relationship with you, and you met him, fllawed as he was.

I love James’s description of the wise in these verses. The wise:

• Understand your ways
• Prove it by lving honorable lives
• Do good works with humility.
• Are peace loving
• Are gentle.
• Are willing to yield to others.
• Are full of mercy
• Have the fruit of good deeds
• Show no favoritism
• Are sincere
• Are peacemakers
• Plant seeds of peace
• Harvest righteousness

Of course, this list is similar to Paul’s fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and some of the beatitudes in Matthew 5.

Father, help me to search my heart and get rid of anything that is related to jealousy and selfish ambition (verse 14 above). Help me to be humble and not try to prop myself up by boasting. Help me to be who you need me to be today. There is lots and lots to do. Help me to do it well and efficiently.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen