Living an honorable life

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)

Did you realize there is a way to 'measure' if you are being wise and understanding God's ways? It is proven by the life we live! If it is honorable in all ways, we likely are growing closer to God each day. If it is a bit too jealous, filled with bitterness, and self-seeking, we likely aren't growing as close to him as we should!

Disorder and evil of every kind abound whenever people aren't seeking God. We have seen that from the beginning of time. We need only look into the scriptures to see the nation of Israel serving God one moment and then seeking after false gods the next. What happened when they turned their attention away from God? There were wars, captivity ensued, and they found what they should have valued most to be missing from their lives.

Selfish ambition plays a big part as a measurement of our 'spiritual health'. When our focus is more or less constantly on ourselves, we are likely not as 'healthy' in terms of our relationship with God. We probably aren't taking much time with him and are likely more concerned with whatever 'pleases our senses' rather than what elevates our spirit. The 'measure' of our focus is often evident in the works we perform. If our focus is clearly on God first in all things, our works will likely be less self-focused (what we get out of them) and more other-focused (what God will do in the lives of others).

Jealousy and selfishness are not godly attitudes, and they produce some pretty ungodly works. The attitude of our heart is either leading us toward godly actions, or it is directing us to engage in things for what we can get out of them, how good they make us look, or what brings us attention. As you can see, there is truly a way to 'measure' the 'honorability' of our lives. If we find we need an attitude adjustment, there is great wisdom in seeking it. Just sayin!