“And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:18 [NASB])
Consider great things guided by small things. A ship goes
how the rudder is pushed or pulled. A horse goes how the bit is guided. A
person guides them both. Our lives, too, go in the way by whom we allow to direct
it. When we get behind the steering wheel of a car, we can direct it where we
want, assuming no disaster or health matter interferes with the steering of the
car. We can decide for ourselves where the car will go. Our thoughts lead our words
and actions.
James said in James 3 that though the tongue is a small part
of the body, it boasts of great things (3:5). Our tongues may boast of our
educational degrees. It may boast of our work status. Our tongue may boast of
what we own, where we are going, or what we have done. Yet, none of these
things or this boasting gives us the unattainable by humankind. Nothing of what we’ve done, said, or thought
can make us righteous.
Paul explained in Galatians 1 that, of all men at that time,
he had more reason to boast than any Jew. In Galatians 1:13-14, he told the
church at Galatia he advanced in Judaism beyond many of his contemporaries
among his countrymen and was more extremely zealous for his ancestral
traditions. Each of us understands Paul’s great goals of being the best at what
we do and of wanting recognition for being the best. Still, once Paul met Jesus
on that road, he realized his best would never be good enough. He persecuted
people just to advance in his job. God does not condone persecution or selfish
ambition and jealousy.
We may not physically persecute people. Instead we might “put
people in their place.” By doing that, we strive to make ourselves appear greater
in the eyes of people. Isn’t that what seeking to be better is about? We do
these things to boast, to build ourselves up higher. This way of life is
arrogant. James called this “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart”
in James 3:14. Have we considered it that way? Have we realized this drive to
get more, be more, and appear greater than others comes from selfish ambition
and bitter jealousy?
James continued with this thought. In James 3: 11-12, he
pointed out that good and bad cannot come from the same mouth. What comes from
the mouth comes from the heart, and that defiles you, Jesus said in Matthew
15:11. We can say the same about our actions. What we allow to guide our mouth
and our body comes from our heart. Just like fresh water and salt water cannot
come from the same source, so selfish ambition and acts of righteousness cannot
come from the same source. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made Him
(Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus in Matthew 5:6 preached on the mountain, “Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
If we cannot be righteous and do righteousness in word and
action on our own while seeking greater things, titles, and praise, how do we succeed
in the world and do righteous things? If I can’t do it on my own, what do I do?
Jesus explained this in John 14:6. He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and
the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” No one can be righteous and
do righteous things in their own strength. We each inherited the tendency to
sin. Of our own strength, we cannot defeat temptation and sin. If we are honest,
we will acknowledge we have sinned because of our own selfish ambition and
jealousy. That is sin. Sin is seeking what we want irrespective of what another
person wants or what is good for other people. Sin is turning away from God and
His purposes to do what we want no matter what the cost.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions (sins), made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show us the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 [NASB])
By God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, He imputes (credits)
Jesus’ righteousness to each person who believes in Him. This righteousness
does not come because we are good or worthy. God gives it to each of us when we
believe and because of His grace. From that point in time, the person who
believes in Jesus for salvation has imputed righteousness and can do
righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit within him or her. That person can
overcome the desire to feel the need to be better than everyone else or own more
than anyone else. That person realizes he
or she is not better than anyone else, but is a sinner just like all people.
The only difference is that person received salvation from sin and eternal
death. This power of Christ in us gives us the desire to do God’s will for His
purpose, not for our selfish ambition or jealousy. We live a righteous life
when our purposes align with God’s and our resultant actions, words, and
thoughts agree with God’s.
From the point of a person’s salvation, that person sows the
seed of righteousness in peace (James 3:18). People see his or her faith in his
or her good behavior and gentle wisdom (James 3:13). This wisdom from God is
and brings peace, purity, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, and good fruits.
Now when you get behind the steering wheel of the car (your
life) you recognize God gave you, how will you drive it? Will you drive it with
righteousness and its resultant wisdom and peace? Or, will you drive it with
bitter jealousy and selfish ambition seeking to get what you want at whatever
cost?
Remember, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6 [NASB]) We can’t have
righteousness and be right in all our actions, thoughts, and words without Jesus.
Without Him, we sow discord, anger, jealousy, arrogance, hatred, etc. Is that what
you want in your life? Or would you rather have the righteousness and wisdom
that creates purity, peace, gentleness, love, joy, patience, kindness,
humility, goodness, self-control, and faithfulness? (Galatians 5:22-23 and
James 3:18)
It’s time we realize what Paul did on the Damascus road. He
said in Galatians 1:15 that God set him apart even from his mother’s womb and
called him through His grace. God said this to Jeremiah, too, in Jeremiah 1:5. Both
of these men heard God’s voice in their hearts, minds, and spirits, and they believed.
God knew each of us before He formed us and before we were
born. He calls us to Himself so He can make us righteous and justify us by His
Son. Consider Romans 8:28-30.
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. [NASB]
Who’s driving your
car?
Righteousness is
available to you, to each of us.
Will you accept it
and let God drive?
Jesus is the Way.
He gives righteousness.
With Him, we need nothing else.
We can be satisfied.
Lord, I try to do good things. I try to be my
best and, also, get what I want. I don’t want to assume I need You to give me
everything. I can work and get some things for myself. Yet, when I do it my
way, I find an emptiness. I find as I get what I want, things around me don’t
always work out right. Someone gets hurt. Another person gets left behind and
not helped; and I feel guilty. I wonder if I could have done it another way. I have
forgotten You are the Way. You are the best way. Lord, forgive me for seeking
things and titles and forgetting You. Forgive me for leaving You to get what I
want. I am weak and broken; I’m a sinner. Forgive me, please. Teach me contentment
in You. Teach me patience and how to wait for You. Lord, take me where You want
me to go. Give me what You want me to have. Use me to speak and do good and
righteous deeds. Lord, use me to tell of You and Your glory. I am Your vessel;
use me for Your will. Amen.
