James 3:13-18
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the other's throats. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Today marks the start of a new series. Throughout this series we are going to explore this idea of ‘living well’ and what it truly means to live well and win at life.
As Christians many of us reference our faith as a lifestyle as opposed to a religion, or organized religion however you put it. The honest truth is that our faith shows a lot in the lifestyle we live, everything from loving our neighbors to making the right decisions. I wholeheartedly believe that being a Christian is so much more than just going to church every sunday and raising our hands every now and then during worship. It is how we live when we are not at church. It’s the lifestyle we talk about leading. It’s about loving our neighbor and being patient. Living well is more than just looking good or getting by. It’s about much more than surviving. We can look good on the outside, but how is our heart, how is our soul? We can talk about living well but are we actually living good, or do our lives just look from the outside? Living well is not about what we have or how successful we are, it is about our relationship with God. If we do not have a relationship with God, a solid foundation in Him; if we have not found our identity in Christ are we really living well. We cannot live well, or have a good life outside of Christ. For many who are not Christian that is a bold statement for me to make, but we as Christians know what it was like to try to live outside of Christ.
As Christians we must be committed to living a life that pleases God, we must be committed to our lives changing to fit His word and who He is. Not the other way around. His word impacts our lives and we begin to live according to what is written in that bible. The bible does not change to fit us. When our lives line up with the bible that’s how we know we are living well.
All this to say, is that Jesus is the way. If we want to win at life, we have to walk like Christ. Living well has such a deeper meaning than what we are taught by society. Life is beautiful and we are going to explore that throughout this series.
Reflection
- Based on your own definition, what is good living?
- Are you living well?
- What do you think or believe God’s definition of living well is?
Prayer Time
Allow your answers the above questions guide your prayer today. Have a conversation with God about what we discussed today, and talk to Him about whatever is on your heart.
I love you and I hope you have an amazing day or evening! Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 286!
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