Wisdom from Above

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Scripture: James 3:13-16 (ESV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct, let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Wisdom is a valuable quality that God gives us. It is not just the skill to learn facts or solve problems, but the ability to understand what is good, right, and pleasing to God. Wisdom helps us to live in harmony with God and others, to avoid wrong and foolish choices, and to produce good results in our lives. But not all wisdom is from God. James warns us that there is a false wisdom that is motivated by envy and self-interest, that leads to chaos and harm, and that is ultimately from the evil one. This wisdom is not humble, but proud. It is not pure, but corrupted. It is not peaceful, but conflictive. It is not gentle, but harsh. It is not willing to listen, but stubborn. It is not full of kindness and good actions, but full of resentment and bad behavior. It is not fair and honest, but biased and dishonest.

How can we distinguish between the true wisdom from above and the false wisdom from below? James provides us with some key indicators. True wisdom is revealed through good conduct, not through boasting. It is meek, not arrogant. It is pure, not polluted. It is peaceable, not conflictive. It is gentle, not harsh. It is open to reason, not stubborn. It is full of mercy and good fruits, not of bitterness and evil deeds. It is impartial and sincere, not biased and dishonest. True wisdom yields a harvest of righteousness, not of disorder and vile practice. Understanding and embodying this true wisdom brings peace, harmony, and good results in our lives, inspiring us to seek it earnestly.

Prayer:

Let us ask God to give us the true wisdom from above, and to help us to live according to it. Let us seek to be peacemakers, not troublemakers. Let us seek to be humble, not proud. Let us seek to be pure, not corrupted. Let us seek to be gentle, not harsh. Let us seek to be open to reason, not stubborn. Let us seek to be full of mercy and good fruits, not of bitterness and evil deeds. Let us seek to be impartial and sincere, not biased and dishonest. Let us seek to sow a harvest of righteousness, not of disorder and vile practice. Let us seek to glorify God with our wisdom, not to dishonor him with our folly. Amen

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