"Wise as Serpents" - 2

 "Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?" (Ecclesiastes 7:16 KJV)

  "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 NLT)

 Believe it or not, but the Holy Spirit does call us out on our issues! Yes, He is a Gentleman and will not force us into anything; but He also is a Helper, making us aware of what we do that isn't right and the best way to do things, we otherwise don't realize we are doing. If you really want to know, I tend to go to the camp that feel this verse is a continuation of verse 15; as it just puts action into what the previous verse was speaking into. 

 The title of this post, "Wise as Serpents," was taken from the end of Matthew Henrey's commentary on this verse. As he puts this, concerning the saints and sinners: "Wisdom will be of use both for caution to saints in their way, and for a check to sinners in their way."  

 Basically, if it can be easier to understand, it is a bit like meddling in things that don't really concern you; or getting involved, thinking yourself to be wiser and more righteous, making judgment on others, even though you really should not even get involved. 

 Talk about calling me out on my issues! Lately I feel as though I have been living in "The Days of Our Lives", which, if it is still on the air, it would still be messing up lives. My mom would watch that show religiously, and I really didn't know why she did, because it did nothing but bring controversy into our family. 

 Really, why should you destroy yourself with garbage that isn't yours? Even if it is slightly in your space, your space needs to be that of a peacemaker, not that of bitterness and strife...

"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:17-18 NLT)