Born into a world as fractured and fragile as ours, it goes without saying that its inhabitants are just as far from perfect.

The book of James is as blunt and gut-wrenching as it is concise – it challenges the, many a time, polarising complexities of human nature, and of our identity apart from and then when inextricably entwined with God. This chapter, cleverly, perhaps even intentionally, positioned dead centre of the book, calls into question the wisdom and severe folly of mere words. 

Lies, unkept promises, cursing, vulgarities, unjust judgements – if the mouth maketh man, how dare we ever openly declare ourselves followers, much less, the chosen people of God?

O, how deceitful and devious the hold of words can have on any given number of people. Hard as we try, whether written or spoken, to watch our words, often what we end up communicating is a regretful revelation of the messy matters of our hearts; of poor character, an acknowledgement of the weight of our weaknesses, and from that, the heavy hurt we hope to inflict upon others as depraved attempts at relieving ourselves of said hurt.

What then can we say to these things? Who alone makes a fool of the wisest of us? Whose words can mend this broken world?

True wisdom is only from God. Although perfection in this life is an unreachable prize, God has purposed in our hearts that we never give up reaching. Such is a true Christians daily battle cry – 

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” – 1 Corinthians 1:25

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5

We must take heart – the same flaws we set alight this world are the same flaws God takes delight in. After all’s said and done, those who return time and again to the hiding under the shadow of God’s wings find wisdom.