November 13
Ezekiel 32-33
Psalm 119:169-176
Proverbs 27:11-12
James 3:13-18
The Wisdom of Peace
“But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18
The description of wisdom in these verses is not necessarily how most people think of wisdom. We think of wise people as smart, resourceful, good decision makers, bright, and clever. But those things are not listed in James’ description of wisdom. If you asked 100 people to describe wisdom, I doubt if the traits above would make the top 10 list. And yet James says that wisdom from above, godly wisdom, is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Those things seem to describe a loving person or a gentle, kind person, but they also characterize a wise person. There is wisdom in purity. There is wisdom in being a peace-lover and peacemaker. There is wisdom in being considerate and submissive. There is wisdom in being full of mercy and good fruit. And there is wisdom in being impartial and sincere. In examining these qualities, it seems that the common denominator is humility. A wise person is humble. They recognize their human condition in relation to a holy and just God. Their response is a grateful heart that overflows with love and compassion for others. Its motives are pure. Its actions are considerate toward the feelings of others. Instead of demanding its rights, it submits to the rights of others. It extends mercy and its judgments are impartial and sincere.
Wise people are peace-lovers. “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” If we sow seeds of peace, we reap righteousness? Interesting. If we sow corn seeds, we expect to get corn. If we sow pea seeds, we expect to get peas. If we sow sunflower seeds, we expect to get big, beautiful sunflowers. But this verse tells us that if we sow peace, we will reap righteousness. Righteousness is being in right standing with God. It is based on our covenant relationship with Him and not on our own actions and moral uprightness. So how does sowing peace lead to right standing with God? Again, I think this goes back to humility. Those who love and seek peace are demonstrating a humility that comes from recognizing what God has done for them and the desire to share that with others. Being at peace is more important than being right. I am not suggesting that being peace-loving means that we do not take a stand for what is right, just, and moral. We must not be afraid to speak truth. But a wise person does that in a peaceable, considerate, sincere way and not with a demanding, rude, and belligerent attitude. How you say something is usually more important that what you say. Sowing in peace is much more likely to result in a rightness in our heart that is pleasing to God and demonstrates a humble and wise attitude. It is also important to note that loving and seeking peace is not weakness. We are not talking about pacifism or a flowerchild hippie Woodstock kind of peace that is cowardly and timid. This peace comes from a place of self-control and restraint. It can evaluate the situation and determine the most appropriate response that will bring about the desired result. Instead of adding fuel to the fire, it is able to bring about resolution. In our contentious, competitive, and easily offended culture, being peaceable is rare. Choosing to seek peace instead of conflict takes effort and purpose. It is hard to overlook offenses and to submit to the desires of others. It is hard to be considerate toward inconsiderate people and to be merciful to difficult people. And yet our reward is right standing with God which is worth far more than any reward that vengeance and selfishness can provide.
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