The Good That God Desires

James 3-5

"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. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

Wisdom is...

PURE: Purity of heart is to will one thing, the good that God wants for every situation. This is the first of all. Are we seeking the good that God would want in each situation. How many times do I stop to ask this question of myself before I act or say something? Never, is the correct answer. Or the honest answer. I wish I could say different.

I find it interesting that this verse on wisdom follows right on the heels of a discussion about controlling our tongue, about not having praises of God and cursings of men flowing from the same mouth. It's so amazing, is the good that God wants in any situation for the wrong, the annoying, the disconcerting to be repeated over and over. Or to be blamed on the offender to the point of shame or discomfort. The correct answer here again is no, this is not the good that God desires. The good that God desires may be transformation of thought, or reconciliation from the offender, but I really doubt that it is for me to tell others about how someone has wronged me.

Okay, let me make it clearer. When my wife annoys the crap out of me by being irritable, the good that God wants is not for me to make complaints at her expense to Bryan, Andy or Joel. Yes, I may have been offended. And yes, there may be a need to vent to my friends. However, this sharing can be done without snideness and superiority. It can be done in a spirit that is seeking the good that God wills. It can be done as an effort of reconciliation. Then it is being done in wisdom.

The wisdom of heaven seeks first of all the good that God wills for all his creation.

I was going to go point to point in the wisdom passage, but You know what God, that's enough for me tonight. How can I pursue the good that You want when I act and speak? What does that look like as I go to bed tonight? What does that mean when I share frustrations with my friends or with my wife? How should I speak about others?

To speak with wisdom, I should speak and defend the good. Allow me to remember, even when there seems to be nothing good to say at all.