Recognizing Peacemakers

Recognizing Peacemakers - James 3:15-18

Jealousy and selfish ambitions are feelings that we all fight against from time to time. We can easily recognize the flesh that still resides in us. But, maybe an equally strong and valid reason is that we want to be significant.  

Was this not the invitation to Eve? In effect, God is hiding something from you. He knows that if you disobey Him, something more significant will happen to you. You will be more like God. 

“But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise….”

Genesis 3:4-6

Too often, it is not sufficient to be “just” servants of the creator. It is not sufficient to remember that only in Him do we live and breathe. Only in Him do we discover who we are, and why we exist.

Taken out of the context of Him, and extended to our desires to find distinction from each other, and even from Him, we cross from joyful dependence into willful independence. 

Sin not only pollutes our self knowledge, it gets in the way of all of our human relationships. 

And, so James is right: jealousy and selfish ambition take center stage. The results are predicable, disorder and even things we would never imagine we could do. 

Our flesh cries out. You deserve it. You have earned it. Learn to love yourself. Never forget the value of you. On and on worldly ideas assault biblical teachings. They would even try to undue the life of the new nature which God has caused to be born within us. This is worldly wisdom! 

“This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 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. James 3:15-18