Daily Verse: James 3:10-12

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
 

The book of James is full of a lot of humbling stuff that causes us to take pause and evaluate how we are living our lives. In our world today, there is a pervasive theme of “it’s all about me”. It’s all about what makes me happy…it’s all about focusing on what I need and want. It’s all about doing what lifts me above the crowd…concentrating on those things that fill my pockets and boost my ego. We are told that we deserve it, we are entitled to it, and we should expect the world to suit our wants. But the more time we spend in God’s Word…and in books like James…we see that our lives are not about us. We see that despite what the world has told us since our first breath, our goal in this life is not to serve self. Rather our #1 priority, our top goal, our main ambition and desire is simple: serve the Lord our God above all else. We are to serve him with every thought, word, and action. That means if we are speaking words that do not serve the Lord…words that serve to tear down what he has built up…then we need to stop. If we are working a job that requires us to make inappropriate decisions and act in unrighteous ways…then we need to find a new job. Even if that job pays really well, we need to push it aside. It means that if we are involved in a relationship that is causing us to live sinfully…apart from how God calls us to live…then we need to either rectify that relationship or move on. Even if that relationship seems really great right now, we need to make a change that aligns with the Lord. Is this easy? Heck no! In fact it will probably be downright gut-wrenching and seem like complete nonsense at the time. But make no mistake, God brings great things to those that serve him with their lives. It may not come today, tomorrow, or a year from now…but it will come. Our righteousness will be rewarded…and when we look back at how we once lived, it will seem absolutely ridiculous that we ever walked that path. May we trust in the Lord today, yearning to serve him with every new day that he provides. There simply is no greater joy, privilege, or purpose than serving our Lord! To God be the glory!