"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?
let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of
wisdom." (James 3:13).
“A good conversation” has nothing to do with dialogue or talking.
Derived from the Greek, “anastrophe”, a good conversation is a reference to our
conduct and how we live our lives. Who we are, our familiarity, grasp, and comprehension
of all things earthly and divine and our commitment to said things, are to be
made known by the manifestation of our life. Our lives are the effect of a
cause. What is that cause? Is it divine or devilish?
We are to be. It is a condition, a state.
It really must be understood that this knowledge and wisdom
have been given to us. God allows His chosen to be, “endued with knowledge”. The
knowledge of Christ and His word are provided for us. It is a gift from God. To
know and the ability to know are not of any merit of our own or quality that we
possess. It has been given.
“In regard to the rewards of righteousness, is there any
great absurdity in acknowledging that they depend on the kindness of God rather
than our own merits? How often do we meet in Augustine with this
expression,—“God crowns not our merits but his own gifts; and the name of
reward is given not to what is due to our merits, but to the recompense of
grace previously bestowed?” (John Calvin, Institutes 2:5:2)
God gives us the gifts and He gives us the will and the power
to use those gifts. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) shows what
happens when we do or don’t access and utilize the gifts of God. Our
righteousness and sanctity are made manifest by how we live our life as a
result of who we are, living the gifts of God.
Look at it this way. God supplies us with the bow, a quiver
with a never-ending supply of arrows, and a target to shoot at. He also gives
us the knowledge and wisdom on how to shoot straight so as to hit the center of
the target. Our commitment to God is to aim true and shoot at the bullseye.
Original sin hampers our ability to shoot accurately and consistently. But we
never stop aiming and shooting at the target God made for us, even when we occasionally
hit the bullseye. The whole affair pleases God so it please us.
Some people deviate away from the target and start shooting
at things they shouldn’t. Any amount or degree of deviation is sin. Other
people simply stop shooting, lay their bow and quiver down on the ground, and
walk away. God will leave everything in place in case there is a change of
heart and that person returns.
The archer’s analogy is one that describes our life. A child
of God will show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. It
isn’t what we say and it isn’t necessarily a specific function or deed. We all
misfire an arrow or two from time to time.
Our good conversation is about who we are, our state of
being, more accurately, it is about our relationship with Christ during the
course of our life. Our relationship with Christ is revealed in everything we
do, say, and think. This isn’t a conscious effort. In fact, we will not be
aware of how we are for the most part. But the Christ inside of you will be
made manifest, and that’s the best sermon any child of God could give.
“Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will
read the Christian.” (D.L. Moody).
Bill Hitchcock
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