JAMES 3:16
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
TO PONDER:
On the tool board in my garage, I have a range of tools. From ring spanners to wrenches, punches to pliers, screwdrivers to hammers. Each of the tools are designed to be used in a certain way for a certain purpose. The devil also has a tool board full of hand tools that he uses to do his destructive work in the world. James mentions two in our reading today that are the go to tools for destroying relationships that God has designed to bring blessing to our life.
Those tools that Satan uses to drive a wedge in our relationships in the Church especially...envy and selfish ambition (or strife as some translations use). The words for envy 'zelos', from which we get the word zealot denotes a fierce desire to promote one's own ideas and convictions to the exclusion of everyone else. Art times we can be so fixated or obsessed with trying to get our opinion across, that we cannot listen to others or even entertain a different view. The word for selfish ambition belongs in the political realm and it refers to those who share similar views and values and so align themselves together. They form sides or parties to fiercely fight for what is on their agenda, pushing their views, promoting their views until they are accepted as the norm. There is little tolerance for those who hold a different view. As a result those who once stood together as friends, colleagues, united, become enemies, opponents and divided; the relationships once shared are in tatters and hurt is high.
When Satan can drive that wedge in relationships in the Church, the power of the Gospel is diminished and the work of the Gospel is forgotten. James says that envy and selfish ambition will result in confusion (disorder) and leave a vile aroma in the community (result in every evil practice). Sadly, I can see these tools of Satan at work in our denomination as a whole at this time. I grieve the hurt that is being felt as people who should be united in Christ, for the cause of Christ in our homes, families and communities are separated, and at odds with one another. Paul said in Ephesians 4, Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bonds of peace. May God give each of us, his spirit of humility that places a higher priority on the relationships he has given to be a blessing in our life, over the personal agendas that we might fiercely fight for. If Satan has used envy or selfish ambition as a wedge in any of your relationships, will you take steps today to pull it out with the help of the Spirit and throw it in the bin? It's never a tool that is needed in any community.
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me when I have become so fixated on issues that are important to me, that I have allowed them to take priority over the relationships that you have given me. Fill me with a spirit of humility that I may always be open to others, even if they hold differing views, knowing that in you, we find unity and oneness. Amen.