Morning Moments

JAMES Devotional Outline

Chapter 3

III. WHOLESOME WORDS 3:1-18
A. Guarded Words 3:1-2
B. Guided Words 3:3-4
C. Godless Words 3:5-12
D. Godly Words 3:13-18

It is important that we understand that godly words are not merely "praise the Lord" and "hallelujah" type words. They are rather the expressions of the thoughts Paul describes in Philippians 4:8 as "true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report," having love as our motivation for our speech and building up as our objective. This is how the Holy Spirit directs our speech, which -

1.Demonstrate Purity - FACT

3:13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Mark the "know it all" for he is not a wise man! An arrogant bragging intimidator is anything but wise. He may be smart, but he is foolish. Godly wisdom is demonstrated by godly words which are spoken with meekness, which is certainly not weakness but strength under control.
I am reminded of the mechanic who was working on my car several years ago. I asked, "Do you mind if I watch?" "No sir" he replied, when a man knows what he is doing he doesn't mind someone looking over his shoulder. That always stuck with me as wise.

Our text says that a wise man endued with knowledge shows it with good speech in his works along with meekness.

2. Denounce Perversion - filth and falsehood

3:14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Why would anyone wish to brag about or delight in things that cause division and strife out of a bitter and envious spirit? Think of it this way: A person at work gets a promotion you think you deserve more and you allow a root of bitterness to arise because you envy the other's promotion and you begin to run that person down to others, saying or implying things that you do not know to be true or even if they are they are none of your business. You think you are being smart, but God thinks you are being foolish.

Your "wisdom" is earthly, sensual, and devilish. Your words have created confusion and strife. It is an evil work.

3. Demand Productivity - fruit

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

Look at these words - "pure, peaceable, gentle, gentle, yielding, merciful, impartial, fruitful, without hypocrisy - Who could ever not value THAT kind of living and speaking?

That is the result of abiding in Christ! It is always the same - continually and consistently Christian. That is the faith life from the practical perspective. This is how the world needs to see us live. This is how love lives and this is the grace God gives. It is the fruit of the faith life. It is not harsh, hard, cruel, callused, or cantankerous. It is not critical, carnal, confusing, or condemning. It is first PURE and peaceable. AMEN!

BLESSINGS!