Galatians 5.13-15
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”
Having encouraged us to love and serve each other, Paul now issues a warning: If you are selfish and fight with each other, you will do damage to the Christian community, and you will do damage to each other. How tragic it is when believers “bit and devour” each other! Sadly, when we do this, we only end up doing the enemy’s work for him.
When people are directed by jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disorder, confusion, and chaos. How could it be otherwise? When people are selfish, there is no desire to serve others. No commitment to a shared vision. No alignment. No team. No standards other than the pursuit of selfish interests and passions. Directed by this mindset, people will manipulate and deceive in order to get what they want. Here is what James says:
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3.14-16)
This passage applies to all people, but it has particular application to those in positions of leadership in churches, companies, teams, communities, and government. Nothing is more destructive to an organization or team than leaders who act from selfish ambition. Sadly, it happens often, and the consequences are devastating. We need only look at our current political system to see the disastrous impact of selfish leaders. We need only look at American culture to see the disastrous impact of selfish people.
It is appalling what people write about other people in articles, fan forums, X (fka Twitter), Facebook, and other social media platforms. It seems that we have lost all sense of civility. The hatred, hostility, and vitriol is truly frightening. In our time what Paul warned about in Galatians is happening on a national scale: People are biting and devouring one another. They are being consumed by one another. It is what James warned about: For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
It is evident that toxic attitudes and behaviors in modern America feed on each other in a vicious cycle that devours and eats away at the fabric of our society. The reckless words and irresponsible actions of many today are doing irreparable harm to individuals and institutions. We desperately need to pursue the re-establishment of a moral code to guide decisions and actions. We need to rebuild social bonds across groups, and we desperately need and a renewed sense of family, community, and industriousness.
In contrast to self-centered and manipulative people, there are those who operate from the true wisdom that comes from God. James describes this godly wisdom as “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (3.17). The result, he says, is “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (3.18). Here is a brief explanation of what that means:
Pure = motivated to do what is right.
Peaceable and gentle = not combative. Seeks common ground and alignment.
Open to reason = engages in honest, candid conversation. Speaks truth and is a good listener.
Full of mercy and good fruits = seeks the best interest of others and acts with integrity.
Impartial and sincere = fair, objective, and real.
Wouldn’t it be great if our government and political leaders displayed these attributes? Wouldn’t it be great if you and I displayed these attributes in all of our relationships?
When people act from that kind of wisdom, especially in positions of leadership, it produces a community of people who operate in “peace” and who produce “righteousness.” In more contemporary language, when leaders and people act with godly wisdom, the community/team is aligned around a common vision and committed to high standards, which empowers them to operate with calm confidence and enables them to achieve greatness in the things that matter.
The great battle that all of us must fight is a life centered on self versus a life centered on Christ. It is a daily, moment-to-moment struggle. The forces of self-centeredness are strong in our time. May we stay alert and diligent, and may we use our freedom in Christ to love and serve one another.
