Just over two years ago I started flute lessons. I have learnt many useful things from my teacher, some of which I have actually put into practice! As I moved on a little with my playing, I started to look on-line for advice about when to buy a step-up flute and what kind of instrument it should be. I discovered that in order to play with more subtle changes to mood and sound, the advancing flutist should buy a flute with more precious metal content. A silver lip plate, then a silver head joint, followed by a flute totally crafted in silver were clearly the way to go. James Galway is known as “The man with the golden flute”. Not surprisingly with this title, he plays a flute made of solid gold. However, the title does not just describe his instrument. It describes the way only he can make the flute sound across every musical genre and in every concert hall where he plays.

If I played his flute, it would not instantly transform me into a great flutist, unfortunately, because there is much work to do, following my teacher’s advice, practising all the pieces I am given and studying carefully how my tone and sense of rhythm are enhancing the music. Even if I play a solid gold flute, it will not cover up the fact that I am still a very raw beginner.

James says that even though we are followers of Jesus and as such have been saved and forgiven for all the sins we have committed and have been assured of a place in God’s Kingdom as His precious children, we must still work on ourselves constantly, trying to be more like Jesus. Left to our own devices we will not live up to our calling (James gives the example of a teacher in the church) to uplift and teach the believers. We will find that whatever impurities are still within us left unchallenged will cause us to use our tongues to tear others down by such means as gossiping, using profanities and complaining.

James urges us to be wise: the kind of wisdom which comes from the proper application of knowledge.

In Proverbs 9:10  we read “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. This kind of wisdom is the desire to walk ever closer to God and it leads to people who are: “pure, peace- loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”. (v.17)

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Let us give thanks that we are more precious to our Father God than gold or silver. Lord we ask that You continue to refine us until we are pure.