A Proven Man

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. James 3:13-16

A man is not proven by what he knows, or even what he says. A man is tested by what he does.

The Bible is clear that doing makes the difference and James, the brother of Jesus, is a champion of that cause. Consider just what James had a front row seat to in being the brother of Jesus. Tangibly, the steady goodness of God’s Son was on full display right before this Biblical writer’s eyes. And now, James encourages his readers to prove their understanding of God’s ways by acting.

We like to test things in many areas of life. From the sporting field to the job site, proof comes only through action. In our spiritual lives, this is no different. Look at the two ways that James measures evidence in this passage. The first way is through an honorable life. The word for honorable is loosely translated as praiseworthy. It is living a life that others, not you, would commend your actions as being filled with honor. The next measurement is humility. Humility is an estimation word, meaning a low comparison of yourself to those around you. When you put these two ideas together, you see the formula for proof. A proven man demonstrates an understanding of God measured by they way others call his actions honorable. This man consistently does good works in a humble way.

DO THIS TODAY: Ask someone to give you honest feedback on how you live out your understanding of God.