The wisdom that brings peace

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17 NLT

There’s a popular English proverb that says ‘one good turn deserves another.However you may have realised in your experience that this may not always be the case. Perhaps you may have sown seeds of goodness towards someone and expected that in your time of need it would be reciprocated only to be disappointed. The best way to do good is to expect nothing in return from that individual or institution whatever the case may be; rather look to God. The truth is that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked and no one can know it (Jeremiah 17:9).

God tells us that we should not be weary in well doing because at the proper time we would reap a reward if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Our daily actions need to be girded by the wisdom of God and not by secular wisdom or popular opinion. Secular wisdom says an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

But godly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle at all times, full of mercy and good fruit and always sincere.

Hebrews has this to say:
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Hebrews 12:14-15 NLT.

God has tied living a holy life with living peaceably with others. We are supposed to work at living at peace with others as far as it is possible (Romans 12:18). Verse 19 of the same chapter entreats us not to take revenge but to leave room for God’s wrath.

In the sermon on the Mount which Jesus gave in Matthew 5, peacemakers are the only group of people described as God’s children (v.9). God says that when we sow in peace we raise a harvest of righteousness. This means that when we consciously take decisions being led by God’s wisdom and His Spirit, we set in place a chain of goodness which we eventually benefit from.

Shalom.