(NIV) James 3:14 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”

  How honest are you with yourself?  How honest am I with myself?  How do you and I deny the truth of how we choose to think bitter thoughts, nourish envious desires.  Perhaps you think, “I have “reasons” for my thoughts and feelings.  “It isn’t my fault” and then perhaps we point our finger at others.

  And selfishness!  How we love to hug this one: “How can I benefit the most?”  And then there is ambition.  “What do I need to do or say in order to be better than others?”
  Many times we view our bitterness’s, envying, selfishness and/or ambitions as something to be proud of…
  Listen to your words, to the tone of voice with which you speak, it will reveal much to you and it certainly reveals much to others.

  We are ultimately responsible before God.  We will be called to account; therefore we need to be truthful now.
  When we stop denying the truth our lives will show godly wisdom and understanding.  Our deeds, our actions and words, our thoughts and motives will be done in humility because we are submitting to God and His wisdom.

(NIV) James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

When we stop denying truth, we will have

changed perspectives, changed motives, changed thoughts.