Seeing the combines out in the field reminded me of a phrase that stood out in a series study on the book of James this past summer, “a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:18). As we assess this year’s crop yields, let’s also consider the yields of our lives. Is there evidence of a harvest of righteousness in 2024?
The book of James is a lot like the book of Proverbs in showing the value of wisdom. James is very concerned about the practicality and fruit of godly wisdom.
We make thousands of decisions every day. Wisdom helps us make decisions in this life. It also develops our character and service toward others.
We truly live in an age of abundance. The average American can live in ways that only royalty could have expected in ages past regarding the wealth of food, possessions and leisure time. We also have an abundance of data at our fingertips in this information age.
But would anyone argue that we have an abundance of wisdom today? Do we always know what to do with all the information and decisions we are bombarded with daily? Our modern context may present new challenges, but the need for wisdom remains.
James 3:13–18 contrasts the wisdom of this world entrenched in bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. This way of navigating life leads to disorder and evil practices. However, wisdom from above — from God — “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17–18 (ESV)
Wisdom from God is a gift that produces a great harvest in us and among us. It is a stark contrast to worldly wisdom, which is chaotic and destructive.
Like the current harvest season, it is not magic or produced automatically. The farmer puts in thousands of hours of hard work of planning, planting, cultivating, watering, weeding, spraying and countless decisions. All tasks are adjusted based on the uncontrollable elements of the season, such as the amount of sun and rain.
We also cannot control our circumstances, but we can ask God for the wisdom to navigate them, grow through them, and serve others. Because James, near the beginning of his letter, says in Ch. 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Who doesn’t lack wisdom? Yet God gives generously — the one with a bumper crop of wisdom to share.
So ask yourself, “What can I do to cultivate a harvest of righteousness this week?” In other words, “What can I do to serve God that produces a good crop that I can share for the good of others?”
Pray to God for wisdom. Read and listen to his Word of wisdom. Worship and grow in wisdom from above with others to produce an upright, peaceable harvest that brings God glory.