Showing Off or Showing God?

James 3:13-15 AMP
“Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth.  This [superficial] wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly (secular), natural (unspiritual), even demonic.”

Paraphrased James 3:13-14
“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.” 

I read something that one of the Supreme Court judges wrote the other day. They were obviously trying to portray themselves as superior in their writing. All I could think after I read it was, that was as clear as mud.

It was ignorant because of the projection of superiority. It was unnecessary because unless you sat down with a dictionary and looked up about a quarter of the words, you had no idea what they were trying to say.

James says in verse 13, “Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.” Be relatable today, humbly be wise in words and deeds, show the love of Jesus. Remember to be relatable to anyone, whether the homeless or the millionaire, to the scholar or the simple.

Prayer:
Lord, let my message be profound but simple. Let me speak in a way that people will want to listen or read what I have to say. Help me to be approachable and relatable at all times. In Your name Lord, Amen!