Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)
Expanded Passage: James 3:13
We all want “the good life.” Whether we are rich, poor, or somewhere in between, part of our natural human desire is to have a good life. What exactly we believe the good life to be, though, can vary greatly from person to person. Often, modern marketing in our twenty-first-century culture seeks not only to reinforce our desire for the good life but to help us define what exactly it is. One recent advertisement I saw portrayed the good life as including health, wealth, and happiness. Subtle messaging? Not at all! The company was very clearly trying to lead their potential customer down a path to their product.
James 3:13 points us to what it means to have a good life as a Christ follower. It is no longer about defining the good life according to the world’s thinking, but according to God’s. The good life, then, is a life lived with wisdom and understanding, demonstrated by deeds done in humility. The world tells us the good life is about what we get, while God is telling us the good life is about how we live.
God’s desire is to shape us with his wisdom, understanding, and love and then use us to help reshape our world. This kind of good life comes through a dynamic relationship of giving and receiving with God our Father who is good.
Look to God today for wisdom and live the good life.
Brian D. Bennett is an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church and currently serves as lead pastor in Vero Beach, Florida. He has published with Wesleyan Publishing House.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
