James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, people usually say that when they are watching others playing chess and they are not playing the game themselves, they can see better moves than those the players make. Even though the one who is playing is actually a better player, he may miss basic things if he is under great pressure to win the game. But those who are watching the game are not under any pressure. They can comfortably watch the game, so they have a better overall view and room to think.
Our Christian life is sometimes similar to this situation. When we seek our own benefit and cling to it, we may not be able to discern the truth. We know what the truth is in our knowledge, but we cannot give up the benefit and thus cannot act according to the truth. But if our heart is filled with truth and if we have cast off selfish desires, we will have spiritual comfort. We can easily discern what is right, and it won’t be difficult to practice the truth and show goodness to others. It’s because, even though it seems that we are going through something hurtful right now, we believe that God will repay us with greater blessings. It’s also because, even though God doesn’t repay us right away, we feel happier acting in the truth before God.
If we have this kind of heart, we will always show the deeds that are pleasing in God’s sight, and we will be loved by Him. Then, we will be able to receive greater blessings than when we try to gain our own benefit and seek personal advantage. We will also be able to see the way of truth clearly, so we can also give clear answers concerning the problems of other people. This is the wisdom that we can gain through being gentle and reasonable, as in today’s passage reading. This wisdom is especially needed for pastors and leaders when they are doing God’s work, taking care of church members and giving proper advice to them. Of course, if you have this wisdom it will benefit you greatly in your daily lives, too. This is the third session of the “Wisdom from Above.” I pray in the name of the Lord that, through this message, you will abundantly gain wisdom in being gentle and reasonable.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure and then peaceable. Those who accomplish sanctification and follow peace can also bear the fruit of gentleness and reasonableness. Gentleness and reasonableness have similarities, so we can bind them as a pair. Gentleness and reasonableness come from having comfort and abundance in the heart as one’s heart is changing into the truth. Goodness and truth do not just stay inside, but they come out as beautiful words and deeds.
When a person has abundant truth in his heart and at the same time he has the freedom of the truth, he can even offer up all that he has. This is gentleness. He can give up not only material things, but also his time, effort, interests, service, and even his life. To be able to give up oneself completely, a person must be filled with the truth in his heart completely, without having any selfishness. If we seek our own benefits, our own tastes, pride, opinions, and so on, we cannot offer up ourselves.
Jesus is the best role model of giving up everything with the heart of abundant truth. Jesus is the Son of God and He had no sin or blemish. His heart was the truth itself. While He was living on this earth, He lived only by the will of God and offered up His everything. Going without eating or resting, He preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven and healed the sick. He toiled so much and shed so many tears and finally offered up even His life for the souls. He had no sin or blemish, but to save sinners He was crucified on the cross. Jesus gave His everything and in doing so He became the King of kings sitting in the most high position of all. With His deeds He saved countless souls and guided them to the heavenly kingdom.
Next, we can learn about gentleness through the deeds of Abraham in Genesis chapter 13. When Abraham and Lot received blessings from God and when their livestock were many, each one’s shepherds had quarrels. Because they had to feed and water their herds on limited land, it was difficult to accommodate so many animals. When Abraham found out about this, he made up his mind to separate.
Genesis 13:9 says, “Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” If Lot took the better place, Abraham wanted to take the other side. In fact, if you think of this situation, Abraham could have become angry with Lot. Above all, Lot had received blessings while staying with Abraham. Furthermore, Lot was Abraham’s nephew. So, if he heard that there were quarrels among the servants, what should Lot have done? He should have warned his servants so that such quarrels would not continue. But it was not the case with Lot. Also, even when he separated from Abraham, he chose the better land.
An ordinary person would have been disappointed and even angry with such a nephew as Lot. But Abraham didn’t have this kind of discomfort. He had so much gentleness of heart that he could give up what he had if the other person wanted it. But Abraham didn’t ultimately suffer loss because he conceded in Lot’s favor. Rather, he gained a much greater blessing than what he had given. After Abraham separated from Lot, God promised him that He would give him the land he could see in every direction and would give him countless descendants. Because Abraham acted with goodness and faith, God blessed him abundantly.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in this world, people often say it is wiser to keep what belongs to you rather than give it up to others. If a person is struck once, he should strike back once, too. If they give one, they want to receive more than that. They think that is wisdom. But the Word of God says it is more blessed to give than to receive. When we give and share in the name of the Lord, God sees our deeds. This is true wisdom.
Let me introduce a testimony of a businessman. He later came to have a very large business, but at first he started with a small shop on the outskirts of the city. Since he didn’t have enough financing, he couldn’t have much stock in the shop. Because it was not a very busy street, the sales figures weren’t that high. But he had the desire to serve others rather than simply make a greater profit when he treated the customers.
When customers came in, he served them with coffee or tea and consulted with them even on very small things. Even though he couldn’t sell something expensive right away, he answered their questions the best he could. If he didn’t know something at the moment, he tried to give the answer by asking other shopkeepers. Also, in that town, there were many elderly citizens whose bodies were weak and who were living in loneliness. When these people passed by the shop, he would go out, hold their hands, and ask them how they were doing. He asked them about the condition of their health, whether their children were visiting them often, and other such matters. If there were colds going around, he prepared tonics for colds and made them available to those who were passing the shop. It didn’t cost much, but this kind of act moved the hearts of people.
These were not pretentious acts intended only to please them and make them buy something. If he had been driven only by the desire for money, he would have sought rich customers and saved that kind of money. But he didn’t do those things with selfish desires. He really cared for each person in the town and showed abundant love. Even though the customers didn’t buy anything in the shop, he would see them off with smiles so that they wouldn’t be embarrassed in any way. If anybody asked to exchange something, he would exchange it without having uncomfortable feelings.
At that time, people didn’t have cell phones like today, so there were some people who wanted to use the phone in the shop. He let them use it. As more and more people wanted to use the telephone, he got an extension for the line to put the phone on the outside of the counter. He offered his telephone in such a way that those who were using it felt very comfortable about it. Those who were touched by this kind of gentleness and kindness not only became regular customers but also introduced this shop to their relatives. When they were moving out of the town, they would recommend those who were coming in to go to this shop.
He gave more than what he was expected to do and served others, but he didn’t ultimately suffer loss. He gained the hearts of people, and this cannot be compared to a little bit of immediate profit. On the basis of this kind of human relationship, his shop became bigger and bigger, and eventually he came to own a big company.
Many people, when they hear such a testimony, are touched and also think that they want to do the same. But in reality, it’s not easy to do it. If the customer looks around for a long time but does not buy anything, many times the proprietor gets irritated. After they explain about the commodity, if it seems the customer won’t buy it, their tone of voice becomes irritated. They treat the customer kindly when he buys something, but when he changes his mind and comes back for an exchange, he is treated coldly. Then the customers will not become regulars. Their feelings will be hurt and they will not come back again.
Of course, even unbelievers know how they can win the hearts of others in this kind of situation. But as long as they have selfishness, anger, and greed in them, they cannot show abundant gentleness. They cannot overcome their rising tempers and irritations, and their emotions are shown on the outside too. That is why the meaning of gentleness is not just giving up one’s everything. The truth has to abundantly dwell in one’s heart first, and from that truth he has to give up his everything. To fill our heart with truth, make it rich, and to give of ourselves and serve others is the wisdom to win the hearts of others. We will gain much greater benefit than when we try to keep our things.
It’s the same when you work for God’s kingdom and take care of souls. In 2 Corinthians 12:15, we can see a confession of the apostle Paul. It says, “I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” When you give everything with your love for God and love for souls, it may seem that you are giving up much. But as you keep acting that way, your love and sacrifice can bear precious fruit.
When the apostle Paul gave up his everything, he gained a worker like Timothy who considered Paul like a father and served and loved him accordingly. He also gained church members who loved him so deeply that Paul said they would have plucked out their eyes and given them to him if possible. Those who truly serve souls do not serve only with material things, but with their time, tears, prayer, and energy. Whether they are asleep or awake, they harbor souls in their hearts and pray for them. They cry with others in sorrow, pray together in times of trial, and share both joy and mourning. When leaders sacrifice and serve in this way, they can gain the trust and love of the flock, and their service can bear good fruit before God.
Furthermore, if you cultivate truth in your heart and if you can give of yourself, you will have the wisdom to discern the truth clearly. Then you will be able to revive souls and also heal wounded hearts. This is the spiritual wisdom that comes from gentleness.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we see the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. When the younger son wasted his father’s money, became like a beggar and finally returned home, the father rejoiced so much that he gave a party. But the older son who came in from working was disappointed and angry when he saw this party. His father had never given him such a party even though he had worked hard all the time. But there was a feast for his reckless and extravagant younger brother. So his feelings were hurt because he was not able to understand the situation.
He might have thought, “Father is so pleased with my brother. Doesn’t it mean he loves my brother more than me?” This elder son had been working for his father, but he was lacking in understanding his father’s heart. He wasn’t secure in his father’s love for him, either. If he had understood the love of his father, he could have treated his brother with more comfort, gentleness, and generosity, just as his father did. He wouldn’t have been anxious that his position would be taken away or that he had to protect his possessions. He would have understood that his father’s joy could also be his joy.
The father gave a party for his younger son, but he said to the older son, “Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.” If truth fills our hearts, we will overflow with the love of God. Then we won’t feel stingy about giving our things to others. We won’t become anxious when others are better off than ourselves. We can help others do better, and we can give up our things so others can enjoy more.
I hope you will fill your hearts fully with truth and have abundant and generous gentleness. Then you will have peace and joy with which you can offer and serve again and again. You will not cling to the small advantages before your eyes, but will trust God and choose the way of truth. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will experience the blessing of this wisdom, remembering that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” and that those who humble themselves will be exalted.