"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle..." James
3:17
If you don't remember this television commercial, there's a pretty good chance that you didn't live through the '70s. That's O.K. Not everyone did. But if you do get a "flashback" when you see this advertisement (it was not only in magazines, but on television as well,) you may recall that "Madge" (a beautician,) soaks the hands of her client (BEFORE working on them,) in Pamolive dish washing liquid.
Why? Because it's
tough enough to clean, but mild and gentle enough to soften!
You may be wondering how I'm going to make the correlation with the verse of scripture above. I don't blame you. At first glance, it might look as though its a bit of a stretch. Hang in there with me, as I attempt to share why I believe that this picture helps me understand the word "gentle" in this verse that's found in James chapter 3 (at the beginning of this devotional).
Have you ever encountered someone who wants to make you understand?
I have encountered a number of people in my life (and I have even been of this mindset a time or two as well, when I first came to know the Lord,) that actually believe that being mild and gentle with people when it comes to spiritual things is a
liability. They seem to want to "spill it" in no uncertain terms...even if it makes everyone look disgustedly at them...and run away.
I recall my wife and I living on a Christmas tree farm in the state of New York when I first came to know the Lord. I was learning some pretty heavy stuff about Bible prophecy, and I was just "itching" to share it.
Carl was a Christian man who tended the vast array of Christmas trees on the farm where we lived. He had a wife and 6 wonderful
kids, and it was obvious that they had a connection with a divine work in their lives. Oh how I wanted to share the wonderfully deep things of scripture that I had learned with Carl!
He and I were on friendly terms, and one day as we were talking, I just blurted out an entire litany of topics that I had been studying (complete with "proof" texts.) I was about 15 minutes into my Biblical rant when Carl put his hand on my shoulder. "Mike, what are you talking about?" he exclaimed. I tried
again to make him understand, but I could see that I wasn't making progress. In my overly-zealous way I had built a "wall" between Carl and I that could not be penetrated...at least not on THAT day!
The wall of my zealous approach came between us.
Things were never the same for us after that. He seemed to want to get as far from me as he could possibly get. I can't say that I blame him after the long, drawn out attempt that I had made to show him how wrong he was,
and how right I was about the Bible.
Making things right.
Carl finally found employment elsewhere, and it was years before I saw him again. We were preparing to move to North Dakota, (the moving van was backed into our yard,) and Carl stopped (on a whim,) because he thought he
saw me in the yard of our home.
I knew what I had to do.
As he approached me with his hand extended I quietly said, "Carl, I want to apologize to you."
"For what?" Carl said.
"Do you remember when we lived in our last home on the Christmas tree farm, and you worked the trees?" I responded.
"Oh sure," Carl replied.
"Well Carl, I remember a time when I unloaded on you about some things in
the Bible, and I want to say that I am VERY sorry for the approach that I took with you. It was not Christ-like or kind in any way. Would you please forgive me?'
Carl's face softened. "I've thought about that encounter with you many times Mike. Of course I forgive you." Carl offered.
I've often thought about what it could have been like if I had allowed the Holy Spirit to give me the wisdom to build a relationship with Carl. I've often pondered what it could have been like if I had
been gentle in our relationship (instead of acting like a "bull in a China closet.)
A Christian's approach should begin with gentleness.
This word "gentle" in the book of James has this root: ἐπιεικής
Transliteration: epieikēs
Meaning?
1) seeming,
suitable
2) equitable, fair, mild, gentle
Being "gentle" doesn't mean that we "water down" the truth about the scriptures. Far from it! We meet it head on...but in a gentle way...AS THE HOLY SPIRIT directs us.
Any one of us could stand on busy street corners and scream Biblical truths at the top of our lungs. We could accost passers-by and boldly proclaim what the Bible says about a variety of topics in no uncertain terms. It's an avenue for
"getting the word out," but would it be wise?
The wisdom that is from above is no less "strong" when it gently deals with those who desperately need what heaven has to offer.
I believe that Christians should be more like Pamolive...strong enough to tackle the toughest jobs, but gentle and mild enough to soften. What would our world be like if every person who called themselves a Christian were to treat others like this?
The "gentle-ness" of Godly wisdom - It's a
divine work that only can be brought about by allowing God to work in us and through us.
