Tools That Fail to Produce Righteousness
In which Brent reflects on why his desire to do good outweighs his ability
The Pun
The Prayer
Frequently, my desire to do good far outweighs the good I am actually producing. How can it be that I so very much, in theory, want to be peaceable yet harsh words come out? Why is it that I so want to be loving, yet I find myself reluctant to release my best toward others? James 3:17-18 suggests that worldly methods bring worldly results, but heavenly wisdom produces a harvest of righteousness:
“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)
I cannot produce a harvest using a sword to plow the ground and a spear to collect the produce. Nor can I produce a good, righteous life using worldly tools. The wrong tools create poor results.
Compromise between my way and God's way will not produce purity. Arguing to prove I'm right will not produce peace. Berating what is wrong in my opponent will not produce gentleness And closing my ears to their arguments will not make me open to reason. Embarrassing them for their wrong will not produce mercy. And publicizing my better intentions will not produce goodness. Avoiding criticism of my convictions will not produce impartiality. And desperately seeking to appear good will not produce sincerity.
A harvest of righteousness will come out of my life when I seek to live in an appropriate manner before the Judge of the Earth who can see past my pretenses of appearing good.
"He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks." (Isaiah 2:4)
I will produce that harvest of righteousness when I tire of appearing right and proving I’m right and begin the real work of living righteously.