Wisdom is Considerate

The next quality of wisdom as listed in James 3:17 is considerate.

Considerate means to consider others, to, as dictionary.com defines it, “think carefully about, contemplate, reflect on; to regard,” especially “in order to make a decision.”

We make decisions every second: not just as to what to do, but what to think, how to respond, when to speak, the words we choose—along with the tone of voice we decide to use—and in general, where we will allow our mind to dwell. 

A mind and heart bent on seeing only our pain, our inconvenience, our hardship, our striving, our need for acknowledgement, our political point of view, our having worked hard to earn a reward, and our feelings is an inconsiderate mind and heart. 

“The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick;” (Jeremiah 17:9a).

“…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

And we’ve all been there, all too often, with solely ourselves as our treasure.

That’s because it’s difficult to “walk in another person’s shoes” when we have no motivation to do so. 

Hence, everyone else and what they are going through, or what they can contribute to the party, or what they have overcome, is completely overlooked—invisible to the naked eye of “ME.”

We are often unaware of our total and complete oversight of others. The people around us may try to offer us comfort, help with insight on a project, or be attempting to commiserate by exchanging information about the time they, too, struggled, and we just barge on over them, not hearing or seeing them at all. 

And when can’t see or hear anyone else, we just can’t care either. 

Thankfully, all is not lost!

God is a merciful conduit of a good, hard look in the mirror!

He will absolutely, in His timing, reveal to us the fact that we bludgeon other people right out of existence with our own incessant chatter about ourselves, from the perspective of ourselves.

He is the one who instills an awareness of community—of other people hurting—of other people having beautiful talents and gifts—of other people wanting to love us and needing us to love them. 

And yes, God even brings an awareness of other people wanting to hurt us, but He brings it with the revelation as to why that is, allowing us to meet even these folks with compassion.

With God, it becomes—it must become—less and less about us. 

As we retreat into the love and confidence of Christ, standing firm in His affirmation and guidance, we emerge from the windowless room of “ME” into the glorious panorama of seeing others from Christ’s viewpoint. 

Jesus Christ will allow us to unconditionally love, and be with, others. He will redeem our self-obsession into a generous spirit of not only being able to, but actually craving to, kindly consider others.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." Romans 12:1-3

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:10-15

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Galatians 5:13-14

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:2-3

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Copyright Barb Harwood