With special interest groups, using social media to both propagate their positions and to shame those of their opponents, minority interests seem to be invested with disproportional power. We live in a time when confusion and the quest for control seems to reign in Western civilization. More accurately, many seek to use confusion to establish control. And this quest is undergirded by worldly wisdom. The scriptures say the following.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18 (NKJV)
James clearly contrasts wisdom from above with wisdom from below. When we look at the cultural maelstrom Western civilization has been descending into it is easy to see which type of wisdom has been predominant. Yet Jesus calls us to step into this storm of confusion and walk uprightly sowing peace.
To sow peace into confusion we need to carry peace. We cannot release what we do not possess. One of my favourite verses is Proverbs 16:1.
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. Proverbs 16:1 (NKJV)
In reading Proverbs
16 recently, my heart was drawn more to verse 3.
3 Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be
established. Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV)
What stood out for me was the idea of our thoughts being established. Like many other places in scripture here is a promise with a condition. Our thoughts are established when we truly commit all that we are doing to Yahweh. Like seeking to fit a square peg in a round hole we can’t sow peace and righteousness through envy and self-seeking; we must walk in the godly wisdom James calls for. When our thoughts are established, we walk in peace and can release this wisdom from above; wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit. Wisdom that sows peace and righteousness.
Without knowing it, our culture is crying out for this wisdom. Jesus said at the end of this age He is going to separate the nations into sheep and goat nations, with the sheep ones being those He blesses and honours (Matt. 25:31-46).
Let us pray and focus our hearts on doing all that we can to assure that ours will be a sheep nation.
This short expository is chock full of wisdom, and also includes an explanation of western culture degeneration, and how we might emerge from the fog if we take this to heart. Many Christians I meet have little awareness about what is happening on their watch. They need to hear from the Lord to start thinking, praying and listening to commit to what He has assigned them for their role in these end-times.
This amazing blog should be sent to “the Stream” or “Lifesite News” or… ?
Thanks for the vote of confidence Mike!