I was reading James this afternoon and realized that it has some great and timely words for us these days! I don’t mean to sound critical of the general attitude and cultural mindset which is evident lately, but no one can deny that there are prevalent issues around the world and we each seem to think we have the answers. Or, at least, we certainly don’t hesitate to trash those who we feel have it all wrong. While the Bible doesn’t specifically address the year 2016 and how we should be handling the many particular problems surrounding us, I do think James offers some good advice we can follow as a means to bettering our small and respective corners of the world.
James 1:19-20 states “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
How much anger do we see all around us?! It’s truly everywhere and, while there is such a thing as righteous indignation, it is hateful anger that leads to the violence, slander, division, and negativity toward others which has become truly epidemic. (And hate can disguise itself so that we don’t even realize that we’re thinking and operating from a place of hatred!) When we are quick to speak and slow to listen, naturally many problems will arise. Pride, close-mindedness, arrogance, a judgmental nature, a sense of entitlement, gossip, and even foolishness quickly come to mind. Can you imagine how much better a country or even world this would be if we followed James’ advice and were instead quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry?
James 3:17-18 tells us that “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
I am thinking a lot lately about an idea that some people tend to operate more as peacemakers; they strive for harmony, love when people get along, and are happier at the idea of everyone feeling a sense of togetherness. Other people, according to this idea, operate more toward the other end of the spectrum where, for whatever reason, due to past hurts or prejudices or jealousies, they actually thrive more on division, slander, gossip and breaking apart others’ relationships, without caring about the destruction they’re causing. I think people can be increasingly divisive, negative, and hurtful because we have become impressively adept at justifying ourselves, twisting words, and manipulating others. We have lost in a big way the sense of conviction or a conscience and, instead, all that matters is looking okay at the end of the day. That is to say that we care more about at least appearing like a good person, whether it’s by making up excuses for our behavior or getting defensive rather than repentant. Forget about becoming a better person, owning our issues, apologizing and actually changing. I think James offers a great reminder that, as much as we can, we should aim to be peacemakers, not people who rile others up to divide even further. And we should be especially convicted if we’ve been divisive mostly as a way to make ourselves look good, better, or smarter in some way.
James 4:1-3 states “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
Okay so this has a lot to it, and given recent events especially in the USA, it made me think and reflect quite a bit. Assuming the earlier verses of James’ advice are being followed in that we are quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, and are striving to be peacemakers in our day to day lives, what could possibly cause quarrels and fights? James suggests that it will be because of internal struggles, being dissatisfied because of something we don’t have, or even because we have wrong motives despite being great listeners and peacemakers.
I think many of us have a long way to go as far as becoming good listeners and peacemakers. I only have to check my Facebook feed to confirm that notion. It doesn’t mean we can’t state our opinions or beliefs; it just means that there is a right way and many wrong ways to go about it. I often wonder what Jesus would say or do in regard to everything going on these days. He would have opinions on all of it, to be sure, and I know that in my limited capacity I cannot possibly know what they all would be. I don’t believe I could ever grasp everything from His perspective, even if He audibly told me right to my face. Sometimes my mind of reason and logic works against me in that way, as God does not operate according to human logic and reason. James reminds me that it’s not all about me and what I think or have to say. It is all about Jesus and that is Who I’m working on knowing and understanding more each day. Thanks, James.
Proverbs 27:17, HLC
sacred strokes 