Untamed
Some of you know that my sweet seventeen year old cat Ember passed away this morning after a massive stroke. One of my dear friends on Facebook wanted me to tell stories about her. Although there are plenty of funny and heartwarming things I could share, I thought about this blog entry in the middle of the series I wrote on the book of James. I mentioned Ember by name near the end as I shared one of her annoying traits as an illustration for this portion of Scripture. Also included in this entry is a fairly unusual encounter I had with a woodpecker (and its descendants).
I dedicate this entry to Ember.
For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. James 3:7-8
I have four cats. They are docile (some would say lazy), affectionate, and generally well-behaved. They understand the word NO and usually come when called by name (and using reverse psychology, I can get one to come when I call his rival’s name). They know their rights and responsibilities as feline members of the household. They are domesticated—tamed—by me.
James said every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. Lions, tigers, bears (oh, my!), camels, elephants, whales, rats, crows, chimps, cobras, raccoons, even fleas…most animal species have experienced at least one member among them succumbing to human training and even going along with it (usually for treats—they’re not stupid). After all, in the beginning, God told the man and woman, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (see Genesis 1:28).
To illustrate this point in dramatic fashion, I took Genesis 1:28 to heart as a sleep-deprived young teacher. You see, when I lived in a top-floor apartment facing a strip of woods, every spring a woodpecker would arrive on the roof right above my head just before dawn. Every morning I would awaken with a jolt as he drilled, RAT-A-TAT-TAT, loud and relentlessly, probably in search of tasty bugs. I would hop out of bed, slam the window up and down, up and down, and whisper loudly, “Shoo! Go away!” only to be reawakened three or four minutes later, on and on, every morning, every spring.
After four years of interrupted sleep at the beak of this winged jack-hammer, that fifth spring, on the second morning of the woodpecker’s yearly ritual, I was ready. The night before, I left my Bible open on the window sill to Genesis 1:28. Sure enough, like clockwork, before dawn the drilling began. I leaped out of bed, threw the window up and whispered loudly, “You listen to me, Mr. Woodpecker! It says right here in the Word of God that I ‘have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.’ Well, that includes you, you foul fowl, so I command you in Jesus’ name, leave my roof and never come back! Find all the bugs you need in those trees; this roof is now officially off-limits to you and your descendants forever!”
I closed the window, slipped back into bed, and slept until my alarm went off. In fact, that woodpecker never returned. The rest of the spring, I slept until my alarm rang; and for the next two springs I lived there, never again did woodpeckers rat-a-tat-tat above my head.
Before you get excited and think, “What a woman of faith and power!” I must admit one thing. I have failed woefully when it comes to taming my tongue. James was right. “Every species of beasts… has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue…” It’s not that I don’t care what I say—I do. It’s not that I cuss like a sailor—I don’t. It’s just that all too often I find myself diving into conversations that I need to backpedal out of. Or repent concerning. Or apologize for. If you don’t think that’s true for you, as well, just listen to yourself over the span of a week or so and you may change your mind.
When James said that the tongue is a restless evil and full of deadly poison, he wasn’t referring to the words of the wicked or the unsaved. He was writing to believers. He was talking about their tongues—and ours.
Whether it’s the urge to share a juicy tidbit about someone that would undermine their reputation or an impulsive need to talk on and on about how awful (or amazingly super-wonderful) your life is—it’s downright exasperating to control that slippery muscle!
David Guzik, in his commentary on this verse, related a story about a lady who told John Wesley that her talent was to speak her mind. He said that Wesley replied to her, “I don’t think God would mind if you buried that talent.” Summing up his thought, Guzik wrote, “Speaking forth everything that comes to mind is unwise, poisonous speech.” [David Guzik’s commentary can be accessed via the Blue Letter Bible website.]
The human tongue has remained untamed throughout history—in James’ time, in Wesley’s time, and now in our time. A Christian who desires to live holy can receive divine help to keep his tongue under control as he walks humbly before the Lord. But it’s not like mastering the times table or riding a bike—things which once learned stick with you forever. No, the tongue requires constant, vigilant oversight.
Remember when James said that all species of animals have been tamed by men? One of my cats—Ember—knows not to jump on the kitchen table. More than once, though, I’ve walked into the house and there she is, all googly-eyed, staring at me. Once we lock eyes, she’s off in a flash, her training suddenly returning to her.
So it is with your tongue, times a trillion. My cat is not on that table every time I come into the house; just once in a blue moon. Truly, my little black cat is better behaved than anyone’s tongue—James said so. Every hour of every day, your tongue must be forced to toe the line. You and I—as believers who want to live lives of honor and holiness—must recognize this point and be prepared to stand vigilant guard over our words. For the rest of our lives.
Gotta go—I’ve got guard duty (over my mouth).
Dorothy
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
Read MoreJames 3:18—Sowing in peace
And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:18
James 3 ends with a triumphant statement which includes four key components: the seed, its fruit, the sowing, and the sower.
The seed. When seed is mentioned in the New Testament, it typically means the Word of God. The seed which James referred to is the wisdom from above—first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy (see James 3:17). Any act of obedience to the Word of God is seed that you sow. Likewise, when you shun those things that are contrary to the Bible or which violate your conscience, you are sowing good seed.
Its fruit. Good seed produces good fruit. Does fruit appear immediately once the seed is planted? Not in nature, it doesn’t. But good seed, nonetheless, develops over time into good fruit. This seed, the wisdom from above, acted on in obedience to the Word and the Spirit of God, is excellent seed, and as Peter wrote, it’s imperishable and indestructible (see 1 Peter 1:23). And imperishable seed can only produce one kind of fruit—imperishable. Do you want the indestructible fruit of righteousness abounding in your life? If so, it’s worth your time and effort to find out what God’s wisdom is for your life—and then act on it.
The sowing. The way you sow your seed is more significant than you may realize. God has given you amazing seed which produces awesome fruit, but there is a way in which to sow it that will produce the best results. Not having a green thumb myself, I have observed others who do go to great lengths not only to secure good seed to sow, but also to make certain that they plant it correctly. I have a hunch that the rewards you receive on the Day you see Jesus face to face will reflect your manner of sowing just as much as the fruit produced by your sowing.
How do you sow, then? James wrote that you sow in peace; in other words, if there is bitter jealousy in your heart or any selfish ambition, you will find sowing in peace impossible. Your sowing must be in accordance with the gentleness of wisdom (James 3:13), not in the bitterness of one-upsmanship. Your sowing must be pure and with a reasonable, kind demeanor; your sowing must be with merciful words, behavior, and deeds; you must sow while standing unwaveringly in the Truth; and you must sow in genuineness and sincerity, without hypocrisy (see James 3:17). This is how you sow.
The sower. That’s you. And James gave you a title: one who makes peace. As you sow your seed in peace, in the gentleness of wisdom, with purity, reasonableness, mercy and kind deeds, exerting steadfastness, and without any hypocrisy, you, the sower, are a peacemaker. You are not a competitor. You are not a fault-finder. You are not an underminer. No, you are a peacemaker on a quest for wisdom from above.
May you reap a harvest of the fruit of righteousness as you sow the good seed of God’s wisdom!
Dorothy
Read MoreJames 3:17—The wisdom from above
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17
James asked, “Who among you is wise and understanding?” (James 3:13a.) He knew that believers cherished wisdom and understanding and longed to be rich in both, but he observed jealousy and selfish ambition operating in their lives, creating confusion and every evil work (see James 3:16). He set the record straight by drawing a clear contrast between the source of wisdom versus that of jealous ambition.
But the wisdom from above…
Wisdom can come from above, and wisdom can come from below. The two are diametrically opposed to one another, not only in point of origin, but also in operation and results. James made it very clear—the end does not justify the means.
…is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
In order to pinpoint the wisdom which comes from Heaven, James listed eight identifying descriptors. If these characteristics are present both in your life and in the pursuit of your goals, then you can rest assured that you are operating in wisdom from above. If these qualities are absent from your quest, then it’s time to seek God to find out what needs to change. He’s ready and able to redirect you—it’s one of His job descriptions.
- Pure. James did not merely state that the wisdom from above is pure; no—he wrote the wisdom from above is first pure. First, and above all other qualities, the wisdom which comes from God is pure. This means that His wisdom is free from carnality; it is chaste and modest; it is pure from every fault, and it is clean (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G53&t=KJV). Pure water is water without any additives, pollutants, or debris. Pure wisdom is wisdom that is not mixed with carnality, immodesty, impure motives, selfish ambition, or lies.
- Peaceable. God’s wisdom does not glory in picking a fight. God’s wisdom does not enjoy putting people in their place. God’s wisdom seeks to bring peace to conflict, strife, and chaos. But since the wisdom from above is first pure, it cannot compromise with sin. If you must submit to or compromise with error in order to have peace, then run! Since wisdom is first pure, every solution that violates or compromises the purity of God’s Word is not true wisdom.
- Gentle. God’s wisdom is gentle and considerate. It views the facts of a case in a humane and reasonable way (see Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words; http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=VT0001187). Gentleness does not use others as doormats to achieve its goal; on the contrary, gentleness will help someone else who is struggling, even when doing so delays the accomplishment of your own goal.
- Reasonable. When you are reasonable, you are compliant and willing to yield to reason. You are not inflexible or headstrong toward others, but you are easily entreated—meaning that you are neither unapproachable nor do you carry yourself as someone who is better than others.
- Full of mercy. God’s wisdom will lead you to be merciful toward others who are less fortunate than you.
- Good fruits. When you are operating in God’s wisdom, you will not only feel mercy toward others who are struggling, but you will also have corresponding works demonstrating your kindness.
- Unwavering. This word is adiakritos in the Greek and means “without dubiousness, ambiguity or uncertainty” (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G87&t=KJV). God’s wisdom is unwavering. When you waver, you negatively impact your ability to receive wisdom or anything else from God; James said of the one who wavers, “…that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:7-8).
- Without hypocrisy. The wisdom from above is free from hypocrisy. It is genuine, authentic, and sincere.
Every Christian has two things in common with every other believer: First, all of us have dreams, hopes, desires, and/or goals we long to see fulfilled. And second, all of us have people in our lives—perhaps some are supportive, many are neutral, and unfortunately, others are dismissive, disapproving, or even defiant in their opposition to anything we say or do.
Your Master ran the race set before Him, and He made it all the way to the end. He fulfilled the purpose of God for His life, even while dealing with people all along the way. Some were supportive, many were neutral and carried a “wait and see” attitude, while others were dismissive, disapproving, and even defiant in their opposition—to the point of crucifying Him.
You have the ability through Jesus and His Spirit to run the race set before you. He will provide the wisdom and means to achieve all His purposes in and upon your life without compromising your values or love walk. Your job is to seek the wisdom that comes from above and to flee for your life from the wisdom which comes from below.
Dorothy
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10, NIV
Read MoreJames 3:15-16—Disorder and every evil thing
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:15-16
The apostle Paul had written to the church in Corinth, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). And as James continued with his discussion and description of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, I believe he wrote with the intention to motivate individual members of the church, when tempted this way, to reflect and repent. Recognize error in yourself when it is present—and repent, James was saying; otherwise, you will be operating in arrogance and will be lying against the truth (see James 3:14).
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above…
Bitter jealousy—a hostile sense of outrage because of someone else’s blessings—and the drive to advance your own agenda without regard for the precepts or plan of God or potential harm to others—is not wisdom from Heaven, no matter how “cutting edge” you may appear under the guise of a carefully-crafted image.
… but is earthly, natural, demonic…
Earthly. You are born from above if Jesus Christ resides in your heart, and your citizenship is in Heaven. Men of the earth strive and compete one against the other to gain advantage and power over each other; it is not so with sons and daughters of the Living God. However, when believers act on bitter jealousy, seeking to achieve their ambition by elbowing and manipulating their way ahead of other Christians for advantage, recognition, or position, they are no longer operating as citizens of Heaven but are living as the rest of the world, indistinguishable from anyone else. As James wrote in verse 10, “My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”
Natural. The KJV translates this word as “sensual”. In other words, when you yield to bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, refusing to recognize it so as to receive God’s grace to change, you are giving in to your carnal nature, indulging your flesh, and are subjecting your choices and your future to an appetite for power and an ill-conceived passion for selfish advantage.
Demonic. If you submit to the passions of bitter jealousy or push, regardless of the implications, to force your way to the top or to gain advantage, know that the Spirit of God will work night and day to invade your consciousness with conviction and correction. However, sin is deceitful (see Hebrews 3:13), and just as surely as you can resist the devil (see James 4:7), you are also capable of resisting the Holy Ghost. Despite your profession of faith in Jesus Christ, if you persist in pursuing your own agenda, ignoring the urgings of the Spirit of God, you inadvertently open the door to demonic activity. So be very cautious when taking up earthly, natural, self-promoting means to fulfill your destiny. And beware the bitterness of jealousy. If you do not heed James’ warning, you may find yourself in alignment with the demonic realm.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
When you allow jealousy and selfish ambition to drive your behavior, disorder and every evil thing cannot be far behind. Would you willingly open up your life to disorder, instability, and confusion? How about to every kind of evil thing? According to James, if you persist in these mindsets, your life will become a breeding ground for all sorts of nasty, chaotic things.
Know for certain that you are never entitled to nurse jealousy when others prosper, regardless of how unfulfilled your dreams may be in contrast. Likewise, pushy manipulation to achieve your goals is not merely another way to bring about what you desire; no. You are out of the will of God. Period.
If you recognize bitter jealousy sneaking into your heart or self-centered ambition driving your behavior, stop dead in your tracks, make an about-face, and run for your life to the Living God. However, if you choose to proceed with such earthly, natural, and demonic endeavors, don’t be surprised when disorder and every evil thing attends your way. James said it would.
Remember—it’s the kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance (see Romans 2:4). Yield to Him whenever you sense His conviction. You will spare yourself—and others—much heartache.
Dorothy
Read MoreJames 3:14—Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. James 3:14
But if…
The word “but” is a connecting word. It connects this question, “Who among you is wise and understanding?” (James 3:13a) to “if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart…” However, the word “but” signals something else as well—namely, if one is true, then the other can’t be.
So, if you think you are wise and understanding, yet you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, you’re neither wise nor understanding, no matter how you look at it.
… you have bitter jealousy…
Jealousy, according to dictionary.com, is “resentment against a rival” or “a person enjoying success or advantage, etc.” Do you have a rival who galls you? Does someone enjoy the success or advantage that has evaded your grasp—and it bugs you every time you think about it? If it bothers you to the point of antagonism or hostility; if that person’s success makes you angry enough to fume about how hard you have it in comparison, then you are dealing with bitter jealousy.
…and selfish ambition in your heart…
If you have ambition, that means you possess “an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment” (dictionary.com). God Himself can place an ambition in your heart; therefore, don’t assume that all ambition is bad. However, if in your desire to achieve your goal you are jealously protective about your “brand”, and you eye anyone who serves in a similar manner with suspicion, calling into question their motives or authenticity—even undermining their good name—then your ambition is a selfish one, even if what you’re pursuing is Christian or wholesome.
May I clue you in on something? Many of us have experienced the hideous grip of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, including me. Remember, James is not condemning these brothers and sisters; he is instructing them. He is giving them an invaluable tool by which to discern their hearts. He is handing them a weapon of warfare, divinely powerful, to tear down the strongholds (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. If Christians aren’t instructed in the identification and destruction of these tendencies in their own hearts, they are destined to fall into these mindsets again and again, and will never grow to be fully fruitful. Knowing that you need to be aware of this type of soulish motivation is half the battle. And if you discover that you have been jealous or selfishly ambitious, there is help for you in God. Talk to Him about it. He won’t turn His back on any of your heartfelt cries for help—despite how non-RC (religiously correct) your admission may be in the eyes of others.
…do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
God is not shocked by your confession of error or wrong motives. Indeed, for you to confess the existence of bitter jealousy or selfish ambition—if you discover that you’ve fallen into it—is exactly what ministers to the heart of God. I know that this is a startling statement, but God longs for you to be honest—both with yourself and with Him. A key requirement for the healing of both a nation and an individual is to confess sin and to repent (see 2 Chronicles 7:14 and James 5:16).
That said, sometimes Christians find it more convenient and less traumatic to avoid dealing with the unrenewed tendencies of the soul. They may even think that it’s foolish to focus on the negative; why? I live by grace; I’m forgiven and it’s all under the Blood. God knows my heart!
The only problem with that attitude is the fact that if bitter jealousy and selfish ambition do exist in your heart (James makes it clear that this can happen with believers), and you refuse to deal with it, this avoidance will send your life into a dangerous downward spiral. When folks who need to confess this sin follow through with it before God, they are well on their way to walking in true wisdom and understanding. However, if someone needs to admit it to the Lord but refuses, he is only fooling himself. James said this about “deniers”: They are arrogant and lie against the truth.
James stressed the importance of self-honesty. He did not condemn those who struggled with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, but he did shine a light on it so that they would be able to deal with this huge wisdom-disruptor in their lives.
His harshest words were reserved not for those who wrestled with these tendencies, but for those who were driven by jealousy and selfish ambition and refused to acknowledge it or deal with it. It is far better to admit guilt and repent when necessary than to shrug off conviction from God, insisting on your own purity—i.e., arrogance—and denying your own guilt—i.e., lying against the truth.
Thank God for His grace that enables us to be honest with both ourselves and with Him—closing the door on arrogance and self-deception and opening it wide to true wisdom and understanding.
Dorothy
Read MoreJames 3:13—The gentleness of wisdom
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. James 3:13
Who among you is wise and understanding?
The book of Proverbs admonishes you to cry out for discernment and to lift your voice for understanding, to seek for it as if you were searching for silver or hidden treasure (see Proverbs 2:3). The Bible is clear: This is how you acquire wisdom. It doesn’t come to you because of your wit, popularity, status, or looks. Wisdom comes when you seek for it fervently—even loudly—before God. When James asked, “Who among you is wise and understanding?” he was writing to men and women who knew how to cry out for wisdom and understanding—with an intensity bordering on desperation.
So, writes James, are you wise? Are you understanding? There’s only one way to prove it.
Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
You don’t prove your wisdom by your knowledge of the Bible. The devil has used his own twisted Bible knowledge to control and corrupt men for generations. Nor do you prove your understanding by all the great things you say. James 3:5 reveals that anyone’s tongue can boast of grandiose feats.
You reveal wisdom and understanding by your actions—by your good behavior and deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
- Good behavior. Your behavior is how you carry yourself in general, as opposed to the specific tasks you do. You reveal whether or not you have wisdom by your general good conduct and behavior as you live life. Does your behavior and manner of life show forth wisdom and understanding?
- Deeds. Your deeds are your works. They are the more specific tasks that you do as you live your life.
- In the gentleness of wisdom. How are you carrying out the deeds that you do? If they are done with wisdom and understanding, then they will be done in gentleness, in meekness, and with humility. The Amplified Bible is very clear. It states that deeds conducted in wisdom and understanding will be done “with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.” Are your deeds done unobtrusively, with gentleness and meekness? If so, then you demonstrate wisdom and understanding.
James wrote in the first chapter of his letter, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26). And he had just written concerning Christian speech: Fig trees do not produce olives. Vines do not produce figs. Salt water doesn’t produce fresh water (see James 3:11-12). In other words, be consistent! If you bless God, let all of your words be gracious. And, if you’re going to speak well, then live well. Let your words be consistent, backed up by good behavior and deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
James couldn’t be clearer—words count, and they must be backed up by action.
May God grant us the daily grace to show forth His wisdom and understanding by our good behavior and deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
Dorothy
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