Fields United Methodist Church

July 28, 2020

“Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” James 3:17

We begin worship often times proclaiming, “God is good!” It is true, God is good, all the time. In fact, God shows absolutely no partiality, is merciful, always seeking the best for all people. The challenge we have often times with God is that God’s Word does not always coincide with how we react to others that may not think like us, look like us, or act like us; hence the challenge of living a life based on wisdom from above which is gentle, peaceable with no hint of partiality. In other words, to live a life of faith means to live life seeing all people as gifts from God, every last one.  We may ask God, “what about them?” Well, what about them? God may well refer us to Jesus; how did Jesus respond to those whose lives were self-centered, envious or rude? Number one, Jesus treated them with dignity and respect; he loved them, “to the end.” Jesus died on the cross for them as he died on the cross for us.  Wisdom from above offers grace and the opportunity to turn back to God, no matter how far away someone has strayed from living a life of faith. Wisdom from above is non-condemning, non-judgmental, and seeing all people as bearing the very image of God. God’s image can be, and is, corrupted by “worldly wisdom” or the propensity to be self-centered, judgmental; hence living a life of sin apart from the mercy and grace of God. God’s wisdom, by contrast, is all about living life in the abundance of God’s grace with Jesus the Christ as the cornerstone.  The amazing thing about grace is that it shares the goodness of God with every breath, thought, word, and deed. As St. Paul writes, “it is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way…” Think about the discord in our nation and relationships that are challenged; what would happen if everyone reacted to others with “wisdom from above?” I would say that if we lived “wisdom from above” we would come to know the joy of faith, that would fill “all in all.” “If ever we needed you, Lord, it’s now.” (Casting Crowns) God is good, all the time.

Rev. Tom Joyce, pastor

Fields United Methodist Church