James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a (NRSV)
Read James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. Verse 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Verse 15Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. Verse 16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. Verse 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. Verse 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Chapter 4Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? Verse 2You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. Verse 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Verse 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Verse 8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Devotion
In this week's readings we have seen how the foolish and unrighteous contrast to the wise and righteous in their reactions to hardship. Now we learn how this plays out within the church as a community. The church that James is writing to is caught up in the middle of social upheaval and an uncertainty about how to deal with those changes. James does not specifically indicate what the issues are or which side of those issues he is on, but he reminds everyone of the need for mercy and peace. James also differentiates between earthly and divine wisdom. Earthly wisdom seeks political power and attracts ambition, while divine wisdom is peaceful and "full of mercy."
Conflict itself is seen as the result of foolishness. These conflicts are not born of being correct or of being wise. They result from greed, covetousness and a desire for earthly pleasures over divine wisdom and understanding. No wonder this passage rings so true today.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we submit ourselves to your will and ask for your guidance in ways of peace and mercy. Amen.