James 3

Today I saw a limousine waiting outside a Burger King. The two items, the limousine and Burger King, do not seem to go together. It had all the incongruity of a Picasso in a Wal-Mart. It was like the President of the United States riding around in a Ford Fiesta. It was like George Bush playing golf with Saddam Hussein. King Solomon understood life’s incongruities when he wrote in Proverbs 11:22, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.”

There are some things that do not go together. We cannot be a Christian and be cruel and heartless. We cannot be a Christian and be a gossip. We cannot be a Christian and steal a person’s reputation by saying nasty things about him or her. These things just don’t go together. James mentions this in chapter 3. He said, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

Living a consistent life is a great challenge. I can start out the day with the best intentions and be irritated on my way to school in the morning and all those good goals evaporate like the morning mist. Fortunately for me Jesus understands.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 8, 2004
Spring of Life, 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453