Read: James 3:13-16

James has been talking about walking the talk - that a real relationship with God is evident by us doing what God says.

Having talked about how our relationship with God changes us and therefore what comes out of our mouths, he now says there are two wisdoms - two ways to live.

The first is is "looking out for number one", where our actions are expressions of our pains, our disappointments, our need to be put others down in order to elevate ourselves over them.

This is the source of damaging words and actions that ruin our relationships.

Write
Think about your faith story: how have you experienced "looking out for number one" way of life? In what ways you have lived this way? How have your relationships suffered?

In what ways do you find yourself living self-centredly? What kind of situations trigger this behaviour?

In which relationships do you find yourself competing, fighting for attention and control?

Pray
What is God saying to you today?

Talk to God about the self-centred impulses in you, and the way you have expressed them, and the people you have hurt.

Talk to God about the situations and relationships where you find yourself living self-centredly. Ask God for insights into what lies beneath these behaviours and feelings.

Pray for your relationships where you struggle. Ask God for the wisdom and resources to make different choices.

Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy as the Spirit delivers you for the bondage of self-centredness, and you discover new freedom to love in your relationships.