13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But 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. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Peace comes when we seek God.
When is the last time you hit conflict, chaos or trouble? Perhaps your life is calmer than mine, but I run into conflict, chaos and trouble all too frequently. My first reaction is always, “I can fix this.” And from that point, I attempt to fix it, throwing in my best knowledge, hard work and talent. But working harder doesn’t always solve the problem or bring resolution.
Why?
Because I can’t fix everything. Neither can you.
I’m flawed. Though I’m made free from sin because of Jesus, I’m still marred by it. When I step into a situation to “fix it” I’m brining my sinful self into the equation.
Problems + My Sin = More Problems.
This is why James says to appeal to “heavenly wisdom.” You can’t fix everything, yet God can.
The same God who brought order to chaos in the beginning,
is the same God who parted the Red Sea,
is the same God who told the wind and waves to “be still”,
is the same God who multiplied loaves and fishes,
is the same God who made more when the wine ran out
is the same God who will gladly step in to bring resolution and peace to the problems you are facing.
Peace comes when we seek God. True peacemakers are those who are walking closely with Jesus and rely on Jesus. Yet why do we then wait until we cannot fix things to turn to the “heavenly wisdom?” Perhaps we can learn to seek first the wisdom of God and all these other trials and troubles will fall into place.
May we appeal to God first before we attack the problems that come our way today.
