The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy– James 3:17

What a wonderful, and revealing, description of heavenly wisdom!

When we become embittered or angry with another person, even a spouse or a fellow church member, we can justify a great variety of cruel words, divisive gossip, or vengeful actions. Sadly, we can even begin to think of ourselves as being in the right while we spread lies or exaggerate offenses or nurse grudges.

But the ever-practical pastor James reminds us not to “glory in” or be proud of the bitterness, anger, strife that is in our heart (14). No matter how objective and genuine our grievance may be, we make ourselves immediately in the wrong when we respond in a way that is dishonoring to Christ.

No matter what the argument or hurt may be, James says, remember that heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be approached. Godly wisdom is full of mercy, so it looks over personal injuries; it is full of good fruits so it responds with a formidable love when attacked or provoked.

A truly wise response will also be without partiality or favoritism. It does not judge someone because of past mistakes, or personality flaws, or family ties. A mature Christian will react with the same forbearance and discretion and charity to a near stranger as they will to a family member (or visa versa!).

Dear Christian, is your present thought life and behavior reflecting the kind of wisdom that comes from above, or the kind that is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish?–Baptist Bible Hour

Just about everyone sees the value of being talented, rich, smart, etc., but there is another group of people who can be of even greater value– “the peacemakers”. These are the folks who hold things together and keep things running smoothly. They don’t get the attention they deserve, but the service they render is invaluable–“they shall be called the children of God“. Listen to what Spurgeon wrote regarding “the peacemakers”:

“….the unsearchable riches of Christ.–”Ephesians 3:8

My Master has riches beyond the count of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look, and study, and weigh, but Jesus is a greater Saviour than you think him to be when your thoughts are at the greatest. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you to sin, more able to forgive than you to transgress. My Master is more willing to supply your wants than you are to confess them. Never tolerate low thoughts of my Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on his head, you will only crown him with silver when he deserves gold. My Master has riches of happiness to bestow upon you now. He can make you to lie down in green pastures, and lead you beside still waters. There is no music like the music of his pipe, when he is the Shepherd and you are the sheep, and you lie down at his feet. There is no love like his, neither earth nor heaven can match it. To know Christ and to be found in him—oh! this is life, this is joy, this is marrow and fatness, wine on the lees well refined. My Master does not treat his servants churlishly; he gives to them as a king giveth to a king; he gives them two heavens—a heaven below in serving him here, and a heaven above in delighting in him forever. His unsearchable riches will be best known in eternity. He will give you on the way to heaven all you need; your place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, your bread shall be given you, and your waters shall be sure; but it is there, there, where you shall hear the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast, and shall have a face-to-face view of the glorious and beloved One. The unsearchable riches of Christ! This is the tune for the minstrels of earth, and the song for the harpers of heaven. Lord, teach us more and more of Jesus, and we will tell out the good news to others.–Charles Spurgeon

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”–Matthew 6:33

Dr. George Sweeting recounted a time when he and his family took a trip to Niagara Falls. It was spring, and huge blocks of ice were rushing down the river, making their way to the falls. Frozen inside the blocks were carcasses of dead fish.

Swarms of gulls were riding down the river on the blocks feeding on the dead fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out and they would fly away, narrowly escaping an imminent death.

Dr. Sweeting then observed,

“I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.”

The most appealing things in the world turn deadly when we become too attached to them. That’s because when we hold onto something so tightly that we refuse to let it go, that thing becomes our idol and surpasses God in our hearts.

Don’t let the things you love destroy you. Release what needs to be released for the sake of your relationship with God. Enjoy the good things in life, but always remember to keep your priorities in line!

Ask God to show you where you’ve compromised your priorities and pray He’d help you keep them in line. (Senior Living)