When I looked at the news this morning, the first thing I noticed was that Congress argued with each other late into the night. Partisan disputes seem to be the norm these days. Everyone is holding onto their personal agendas and ideologies at the expense of the common good.
James 4:1-2 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” As long as we allow selfish motives to reign within us, we will not be at peace with each other. Somewhere we need to find the wisdom to look past our selfishness and seek to build up and benefit others.
Again James gives us help in finding this wisdom. He says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 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, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” These verses give us the basis for evaluating whether someone is speaking with wisdom. If we speak with peace, gentleness, mercy and impartiality with a life of good conduct, then we are speaking wisdom. But if our conduct exhibits jealousy and selfishness and our words are false and boastful, then we are not speaking wisdom. Words of wisdom lead to peace. Selfish actions lead to quarrels.
Reluctant Retiree 