Hard Work

ByJim Stephens

Reading:  James 3; Proverbs 29

17 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. 18 You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (James 3:17-18 MSG)

Why does everything worthwhile have to involve hard work? You’d think that among people who are born again through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for sin, forgiven and cleansed, counted righteous by God himself in spite of all we’ve done wrong, filled with God’s Holy Spirit, given every good and perfect gift for service to others – you’d think that developing a healthy, robust community would be a piece of cake!

Unsurprisingly, James says developing and living in healthy, robust, God-honoring and Christ-displaying community is hard work and results from living wisely! Godly wisdom begins with holy living and is most clearly expressed through getting along with others.

Here are the clear indicators of living with Godly wisdom:

  • Being gentle and reasonable, not pushy and opinionated.
  • Overflowing with mercy and blessings, not judgment and criticism.
  • Being steady and dependable, not hot one day and cold the next.
  • Not being two-faced, being the same in private as in public.
  • Treating others with dignity and honor.
  • Getting along with other people, not demanding my own way.

Rightly relating to others really is hard work! Godly wisdom is characterized by “getting along with others” and is demonstrated in how I relate to and behave toward other people.

Prayer:

Father, I ask you to make me wise with Godly wisdom. I see in your Word that Godly wisdom is characterized by holy living and getting along with others. Help me to become the person I’ve described above, to treat others with dignity and respect, make allowances for each person’s uniqueness, and quickly take the initiative in forgiveness and reconciliation when offenses come. Help me carry through with the hard work of living wisely and well in healthy, robust community. Amen.