Among the Jews of Jesus' day a child had the right not to be injured or murdered from the moment of conception to the day he or she died of natural causes. In our country and in many across the world, child after child after child has been flushed, sucked or sliced from his or her mother's womb with the same consideration that is given to an infected gall bladder or the object of liposuction. Each child's value has been carefully weighed and recorded by the surgeon, ranging from six grams to six or more pounds of aborted inconvenience. According to Jesus, in His kingdom helpless and valueless children are honored right along with the lost, the poor, the outcast and the hungry. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Some people are wise and others are otherwise.
The wisdom that James wrote about cannot be acquired anywhere but at the feet of Jesus. It is not so much a contrast with the typical education of the world as it is a conflict with the sin at work in each of us. When Jesus held up a little kid as an example of the kind of person who needs our attention and acceptance, and as a way of displaying our love for Him, He wasn't kidding around. In another house on another evening, Jesus almost had another quarrel with Peter. Jesus strapped a servant's towel around His waist and washed the disciples' feet.