Sowing Seeds of Peace
Reflection
Begin your study by sharing thoughts on this question.
1. Think of a time when you saw someone bring peace to a volatile situation. How did that person bring
peace?
Bible Reading
Read James 3:13 Who is a wise and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not
against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, wensual, devlish. 16 For where envying
and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Discovery
Explore the Bible reading by discussing these questions.
2. How would you describe “worldly wisdom”?
3. How does Scripture describe God's wisdom?
Question 3. You may wish to look up other verses that describe God's wisdom: 1 Corinthians 1:21–24; Colossians
2:2, 3; Revelation 5:12.
4. Why do jealousy and selfishness cause confusion and evil things?
5. List some things that God's wisdom motivates people to do.
6. What happens when people work for peace?
Inspiration
Here is an uplifting thought from the Inspirational Study Bible.
“Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.”
The principle for peace is the same as the principle for crops: Never underestimate the power of a seed.
The story of Heinz is a good example. Europe, 1934. Hitler's plague of anti-Semitism was infecting a continent.
Some would escape it. Some would die from it. But eleven-year-old Heinz would learn from it. He would learn the
power of sowing seeds of peace.
Heinz was a Jew.
The Bavarian village of Furth, where Heinz lived, was being overrun by Hitler's young thugs. Heinz's father,
a schoolteacher, lost his job. Recreational activities ceased. Tension mounted on the streets.
The Jewish families clutched the traditions that held them together—the observance of the Sabbath, of Rosh Hashanah,
of Yom Kippur. Old ways took on new significance. As the clouds of persecution swelled and blackened, these ancient
precepts were a precious cleft in a mighty rock.
And as the streets became a battleground, such security meant survival.
Hitler youth roamed the neighborhoods looking for trouble. Young Heinz learned to keep his eyes open. When he
saw a band of troublemakers, he would step to the other side of the street. Sometimes he would escape a fight—sometimes
not.
One day, in 1934, a pivotal confrontation occurred. Heinz found himself face-to-face with a Hitler bully. A
beating appeared inevitable. This time, however, he walked away unhurt—not because of what he did, but because
of what he said. He didn't fight back; he spoke up. He convinced the troublemakers that a fight was not necessary.
His words kept battle at bay. And Heinz saw firsthand how the tongue can create peace.
He learned the skill of using words to avoid conflict. And for a young Jew in Hitler-ridden Europe, that skill
had many opportunities to be honed.
Fortunately, Heinz's family escaped from Bavaria and made their way to America. Later in life, he would downplay
the impact those adolescent experiences had on his development.
But one has to wonder. For after Heinz grew up, his name became synonymous with peace negotiations. His legacy
became that of a bridgebuilder. Somewhere he had learned the power of the properly placed word of peace. And one
has to wonder if his training didn't come on the streets of Bavaria.
You don't know him as Heinz. You know him by his Anglicized name, Henry. Henry Kissinger.
Never underestimate the power of a seed.
(From The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado)
Response
Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.
7. How does a wise person resolve conflict?
8. What do you think it means to sow seeds of peace?
9. Why are people sometimes unwilling to work for peace?
Prayer
Father, we don't always want to seek peace. Forgive us. Keep us from contributing to conflict instead of resolving
it, for fanning flames of discord instead of spreading peace. Give us your wisdom, Father—wisdom to be submissive,
merciful, and gentle.
Journaling
Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.
How can I bring peace to conflict at home, work, school, or church?
Additional Questions
10. How does this passage challenge you to deal with conflicts in your relationships?
11. Why is it important for Christians to sow seeds of peace?
Question 11. Other places in the Bible talk about peace and peacemakers. Look up Psalm 34:14; 37:37;
Proverbs 16:14; Matthew 5:9; 5:24.
12. List some practical ways you can bring peace to a conflict.
For more Bible passages on wisdom and peace, see Psalm 29:11; 34:14; 119:165; Proverbs 2:6; 3:13; 4:7; Daniel
12:3; John 14:27; Romans 8:6; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 2:2, 3.
To complete the book of James during this twelve-part study, read James 3:13–18.
From Life Lessons from the Inspired Word of God—Book of James by Max Lucado. Copyright 1996 by Word Publishing. Published by Word.
