Guard Ourselves Against Bitter Jealousy And Selfish Ambition

 James had been calling believers to zealously guard their words and actions. He encouraged them to demonstrate this through both their righteous conduct and gentle wisdom. Being zealous for the things of God and having a passion for that which is honest and true is a good thing. However, when one's passion is diverted into egotistical self-seeking, or follows in an ungodly direction, it can have a devastating effect.
 James contrasts wisdom and meekness of spirit with bitter jealousies and selfish ambition. He makes a distinction between the godly man or woman who displays a gentle attitude and a gracious understanding of the one who is bitter, envious, self-obsessed, inconsiderate, and egotistical. James is describing the sort of person who is critical of others and courts contention. Such people seem to go out of their way to provoke others to anger, rather than displaying a living faith through Godly wisdom, understanding, a Christlike kindness, and graciousness of heart.
 Too often the attitude of heart that James is denouncing is prominent in a religious-minded man or a legalistic woman. Such people are often bitter or filled with enmity. Too often they seem to delight in picking the splinter out of the eyes of others, and causing dissension among brothers and sisters, while being totally unaware of the great beam that is blinding their own vision.
 May we as Christians rigorously Guard Ourselves Against Bitter Jealousy And Selfish Ambition in our hearts, and may we walk in the spirit and in truth, for our own spiritual development and for the greater glory of our God and Savior.
James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

Our United Prayer:
Heavenly Father, keep us we pray, from any bitterness of heart or selfish ambitions, and help us to walk in spirit and in truth. Give us wisdom and understanding, so that by our actions and attitude, we may walk in Your ways and always be pleasing to You. Strengthen us and enable us to live as Christ lived, in active dependence on You. This we ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN.