Friends in Christ Message for September 22, 2012

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Friends in Christ Weekly Message
September 22, 2012

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom - it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.
Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
James 3:13-18 (Message*)

It is easy to talk a good game, but nevertheless act with a mean spirit. James says that it's the way we live that really counts. This is what shows who we really are.

I need to look not so much at my words (such as here in these messages!), but whether I truly live a life that “is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings”. If I am honest with myself, I will see that there is clearly room for improvement in how I live my life.

One of the keys James highlights is living humbly. Maybe I don't have all the answers, and should be more ready to learn from others. If I treat others with dignity and honor, I will be more teachable. There's no telling who the Lord will work through to teach me how to live more faithfully.

Bill Samuel