A man in his large pickup truck pulled out in front of me, slammed on his brakes, and fled from his vehicle to aggressively pursue a jogger. Apparently they had exchanged a few words and this guy was hot! The athlete was wise in continuing his run without stopping for further conflict. Wow, talk about road rage. You don’t have to look hard to be an eyewitness to such events.
As I commute to and from work on New Circle road I continually get cut off by oncoming vehicles. There is an obvious lack of knowledge and skill on what it means to YIELD and MERGE into the flow of existing ongoing traffic. I can’t help but consider the similar attitude some apply to life. “I’ll live my life with no regard to how my behaviors affect the flow of your life.” “It’s your responsibility to stay out of my way.” Careless living with no regard to others is not only selfish but unwise.
James 3:17New King James Version (NKJV)
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (Emphasis added)
If we want to be skilled in the art of wise living we must be willing to yield; Wisdom from above is willing to yield! What does that even mean?
“The original term [willing to yield] described someone who was teachable, compliant, easily persuaded, and who willingly submitted to military discipline or moral and legal standards. For believers, it defines obedience to God’s standards.”₁
There is wisdom in yielding to God’s standards rather than driving by our own rules. Christ gave His life that we could live. He yielded His own rights for the sake of others. Are you living life completely oblivious to those who are around you or are you considerate and willing to yield? Are you willing to yield both on the roads and in life?
Copyright©2015, Gloria Stucky
Photo: “Man Behind A Window” by graur razvan ionut/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
₁John MacArthur Study Bible; commentary on page 1931