Sowing Peace

This morning I am reading from the Letter of James. He is so straightforward in His language and views, generally easy to understand. The verses this morning come from the third chapter - James 3:13-18 NIV:

[13] "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. [14] But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. [15] Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

[17] 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. [18] Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."

I like the terms that James uses - bitter envy and selfish ambition. The original Greek offers a helpful perspective. The root words of the Greek for selfish ambition could be translated to say "boiling, piercing". This is not a casual envious thought, but something that is boiling up since us. I think of issues that cause us to fixate on something we don't have, or some wrong that has been done to us. So the focus is all in self, the same can be said of the original Greek here translated selfish ambition. The focus is on oneself, and this is done without regard for those around you, in fact it often results in or cause factions, division, etc. This kind of focus clearly doesn't fit the gospel according,nor the charge given by Jesus to the church.

In stark contrast, James writes the next few verses. These words should help us to quickly discern the origination of the thoughts and feeling within us. First is purity, in other words no carnality, or fleshly desire, the exact opposite of selfishness. Peace loving and considerate, speaks of focusing on others and putting them first. Submissiveness means we are willing to lay down our own agenda, our own plans. Full of mercy and good fruit - not judgmental and not causing division but showing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Impartiality and sincerity means a willingness to actually see both sides, or all sides and then deciding but deciding with a true heart, and clean conscience. Finally, sowing in peace, means we have peace in abundance in our lives, so much that out of the overflow we can provide seed for others.

The fruit borne out of sowing peace is righteousness, which is interesting in that you usually have the same thing you plant. Planting corn leads to a corn harvest. In this case though James is apparently pointing out the cause of much sin, namely selfishness and envy. Also to point out an important fact, ur righteousness does not come from us and our actions, but rather from Jesus. This makes perfect sense in James's logic here, for the word he uses for peace is a word that means among other things, knowledge of salvation, or a settledness in our hearts and soul. So as we sow this, others come to understand that their salvation comes from Christ, and thus entrust themselves to Him, bringing about righteousness in their lives.

So my encouragement today is to look at the origination of my thinking, to see if it boils up from some internal selfish focus, and desires division or if it comes down from Heaven and leads ultimately to Him. The fruit of which source should be evident to all. Lord help me to look to You, rather than to myself. Help me to change my mindset and my focus, and become one who sows peace by my words and actions.