James 3:17-18, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
We all face unfulfilled expectations in life. We have our own standards and expect others to have the same values. When our values are ignored, it is detrimental to us. We then are let down. Maybe even offended. What causes you to be offended? What is bothering you right now in your relationships with others? Paul was mocked and criticized by many people. Jesus was more than anyone else falsely accused. Yet not once was anger or bitterness shown to the instigators. Jesus viewed them as ignorant and even said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. Jesus prayed for His enemies. I need to remember that the next time I am “offended.”
The Greek word “Eirene” – (noun) peace, peaceable, peaceably, occurs in each book of the NT except I John and not in Acts 7:26 where Stephen refers to Moses, “And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them . . .” It describes harmonious relationships between men and nations. Then in James 3:17 the word is “Eirenikos” (adjective) which denotes peaceful. “It is used (a) of the fruit of righteousness, Heb. 12:11, “peaceable” (or ‘peaceful’) because it is produced in communion with God the Father, through His chastening; (b) of “the wisdom that is from above,” James 3:17” An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. W.E. Vine. This wisdom is learned and acquired by reading God’s Word, applying it, and staying in conversation with Him throughout the day.
Not being stubborn or obstinate is the meaning of “open to reason” in James 3:17. Listening skills are needed when our “peace index” has been threatened. It takes a mature person to know when to yield wisely, having mercy in your basket to give if an appeal is warranted. It is the wiser option to be humble and apply the wisdom David lived before his oldest brother Eliab, that blew up at David. He told David he was conceited (1 Sam. 17:28) and misjudged David’s intentions. Eliab’s false accusation against his brother David, was due to David being chosen by God to kill Goliath and not Eliab. David turned away and did not argue. He did not waste time in a futile interchange of discussion. He walked away from a fight with his brother and did not argue with him. David’s determination, courage, and faith in God’s power working through him, was not threatened. He kept the end goal before him. His heart’s purpose was to defeat a giant who was defying the armies of the living God and he did just that. That was God’s purpose for David and God had prepared him to do exactly what God wanted him to do at that time in his life.
Do you have someone you have difficulty getting along with in your sphere of influence? Someone that causes your “peace index” with people category to decline to a lower percentage? How can you protect yourself from being offended? Isn’t that the source of a depleted “peace index?” The answer lies in telling yourself every day:
- I am grateful for God’s forgiveness in my own life.
- I will start my day by thanking God for His forgiveness and for loving me.
- I will live this day by remembering God’s forgiveness for me.
- I will end my day by thanking God for his forgiveness.
“I have this verse underlined (James 3:15-18) because it is the grid through which I can run any conversation, teaching, or any word of instruction. If there is envy and strife, tension and confusion in what I hear, then I know it’s from hell. But if there is purity and peace, righteousness and mercy in what I hear, I embrace it as being from the Lord.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament.
This is the freedom in knowing the truth of God’s Word and it will set you free.
Listen to Mercy Me Then Christ Came (Lyric Video).