Paul is telling this Galatian church that just like any farmer, they will reap what they sow. But James in this last verse seems to be going further than that. He tells us that not only will a peacemaker reap peace, but also righteousness which means right standing with God.

The more we open our spirits to receive from God, the less we will find ourselves guilty of saying the wrong thing. If we submit to Jesus, and His word, we cannot help but be changed. We do not do it ourselves, He does it for us with our co-operation.

Real Wisdom, the wisdom from God, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day, cold the next, not two faced. You can develop a healthy community that lives right with God.

The world needs freshwater and salt water. They are not used for the same purposes, and we need them to come from different sources. In the same way our hearts should be so full of the Word of God and His thoughts, that we never use bad language or criticism.

James must have suffered a lot from the words of others, and you can feel the bitterness behind what he says, and imagine in your mind the pictures he uses in stressing his point. The chapter continues the message about the use of our tongues giving different examples.

A teacher who passes on to others their enthusiasm or disdain for a subject can have a life-long effect on their students. Most of us found it easier at school to do well in the subjects where the teacher seemed as though they had a real life outside their work.

James had obviously learned to have fellowship with his Father God, and is trying to get across to his readers the importance of that relationship. His book is basically a list of good advice for us who call ourselves Christians. He finishes this chapter with another Old Testament reference.

Doing good often requires taking risks. The risk of failing, the risk of looking foolish. The risk of it costing more than we can afford or feel inclined to give. The risk of others taking advantage of us. But we have a God who will protect us from those things.

God has no favourites and neither should we. But sadly, we live in a world where no one is equal. Most things are decided by who you know, where you were educated, your political preferences, who likes you, who does not, or the size of your bank account.

For many of us religion means having faith, going to church, saying regular prayers. But this verse is very clear. Real Christianity is action. Showing love to others. Helping the poor. Giving to charities that relieve the distress of the orphan and the oppressed, or even doing these things ourselves.