“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:17-18)
Yep. Yes. I agree. Wholeheartedly. Do it. Now. Always. Give peace a chance.
But I must also ask, “How’d that work out, James?”
James set forth what true, God-given wisdom looks like. Let us receive it for what it is—the word of God.
Let’s also ask, does that wisdom work? I guess it depends on how you define the word work.
In Acts 21 the Apostle Paul arrived in Jerusalem with an offering received from Gentile believers and designated for the poor of Judea. He walked into a tinderbox that was ready to ignite into a firestorm. The Jewish-Gentile tensions were so taut they were about to snap. And Paul was at the center of it all. Paul, it was said, taught Jews outside of Judea to forsake the law of Moses (Acts 21:21). It was a falsehood but rumors run on airtime, not actuality.
In view of the times, James counseled a scheme where Paul would go to the Temple with some Jewish men who were under an oath. The apostle would join them in the Temple, pay their expenses, and join them in making sacrifice (Acts 21:23-24a). “Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law” (v.24b). Let’s give peace a chance.
Did it work? Did it produce “a harvest of righteousness . . . sown in peace”?
No. At least not like James seemed to picture it.
On the final day of James’ scheme, a riot started in the Temple over Paul. The Jews there tried to kill him (Acts 21:27-31).
None of that discounts the truthfulness of what James taught about wisdom. It does remind us, however, of something Paul had himself recently written: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18).
Make every legitimate effort to live at peace. Yes, and amen! But living at peace takes two parties. Even if you try, it doesn’t guarantee the other party will try also.
Sometimes righteousness works itself out in less than peaceful circumstances. “The God of peace” (Rom. 15:33; 16:20; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:23) knows how to work his righteousness with or without willing parties (Psa. 75:11). May he always find us willing, even when not all in our circle of relationships are cooperative.
