Walk the Talk: A Men's Bible Study in JamesSample

Truth, Justice & the Almighty's Way

What do you stand for? Or are you falling for anything?

Most of us men have heroes. Most of us men want to be heroes. And the most recognizable hero of our post-modern time is likely Superman. If you’ve ever been a fan of the red and blue, then you know what he stands for. Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Albeit, recently ‘the American Way’ has been cut out to make the hero more inclusive…

For us as followers of Christ the truth and justice part should also be among the obvious of our virtues. Yet brothers, as men running after the heart of God, our ways should reflect the Almighty’s Way. In Christ, men should always walk in and speak for truth, justice, and our Father’s way!

James is briefly, but deliberately, speaking here of the comparison between God’s ways and the ways of the world. We previously spoke of our words having the potential to spark and steer the future. Today we look at the fact that we can be wise in our own eyes, or truly wise in God’s ways. And that godly wisdom inspires action that reflect the truth and bring forth justice.

For instance, there might come a time when telling someone the truth doesn’t feel like a campfire kumbaya. It might initially hurt the one who hears it, as well as yourself, the one who speaks it. But in the end, it will spark a refining fire, instead of letting a wild fox blindly blaze a burning trail through the vineyard. Truth spoken in love has a greater effect than a lie covered up with tolerance. And the differentiating factor is godly wisdom.

Godly wisdom also leads us to conduct our own lives in a righteous manner. It allows us to shine God’s light when we face darkness. It allows us to speak the truth in a world of lies. It allows us to live with freedom instead of dying in bondage. And it allows us to walk in peace and purity, with ourselves and others, rather than living with perversity and pretention.

Worldly wisdom on the other hand leads us to believe that our own pleasure, prosperity, and priorities are to be front and center. The world tells us we can have it all but leaves the price we pay in the fine print. It tells us we can be who want to be and let others do what they feel is right as well. It lets us believe we can be inclusive to all views and opinions, that there’s a variety of truths. Yet, at the same time it blindsides us to exclusively fend for our own ambitious and selfish gain.

The wisdom of the world is ironic. The wisdom of God is infinite.

Let us therefore not be men who become blindsided by the contradictions, inconsistencies, and selfishness of the times. Let us not walk in falseness and foolishness, appearing to be streetwise while in fact we might as well be leading ourselves and others to demise.

Let us then walk with infinite wisdom in truth, justice, and the Almighty’s way!

Reflect on the following…

1. What are the differences between Godly truth and worldly tolerance?

2. How can you be sure to daily walk in God’s wisdom and His ways?

3. What do you specifically need prayer for today? Pray about it…