Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 17

Instructions for the Tongue

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace,” James 3:17, 18.

The FBI produced a three-page document entitled “Know Your Money.” In it, Secret Service agents gave detailed information on how to spot a counterfeit bill. The document creators show ten different safeguards on our currency bills and what to look for when checking a bill. It is a thorough document. Once studied, someone can quickly spot, or at least suspect, a counterfeit.

Around the time James was writing his letter to the scattered believers, there were factions of “God-followers” and Jews claiming superior wisdom. Zealots claimed to be wise and religious, yet they were advocating and promoting retaliation and revolution. Others, like the Jewish religious leaders, also claimed to be wise and religious, but Jesus called them hypocrites, blind guides, fools, serpents and a generation of vipers (Matthew 23:13-33). “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (verse 28). Jesus said He would send true wise men to them, but they will persecute and kill them like they did the prophets of old.

In James 3:13-18, James contrasted earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom so believers can spot truly wise leaders and teachers among them. Earthly, demonic wisdom thrives on envy, strife and lies and produces confusion. Those “wise” (verse 13) men were driven by jealousy and the out-doing of their peers. Godly wisdom, however, is characterized by good conduct, meekness, truth and peace. A truly wise leader or teacher will not show favoritism or hypocrisy but be approachable, gentle and merciful. James was helping Christians know true wisdom and refine their sense of discernment. Once we know the real thing, the fake is easy to spot.

THOUGHT
True wisdom brings peace.

Kelli Reynolds