James 3

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (3:17). The opposite of God’s peace-loving wisdom, according to James, is the human tendency to inflict harm with our words. “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil .... it corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire” (3:6). The “small spark” (3:5) of an unkind word, a bitter accusation, or malicious gossip can ignite an enormous, destructive flame of conflict.

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (3:18). In a conflict-obsessed world, nothing reflects God more than when we choose to be peacemakers.