James 3:13-18
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
James 3:13-18 NIV
When we consider wisdom, we think about someone who knows the right thing to do in a certain situation, which there’s a sense in which that’s true, but it’s not just about knowing the right thing to do, it’s about doing the right thing. We wouldn’t say someone’s wise just because they know the right thing to do and they do the opposite. We would say that person is foolish.
So, someone who does the right thing. And what is right? Well, what’s right, according to James is God’s Word and that is which is pure, peaceable, gentle. I think about these words, pure before God and before others. Peaceable, promoting peace with God and promoting peace between others. Gentle, open to reason. The word there literally means to be willing to yield to others, be willing to understand others, obviously not in a way that we compromise our convictions or that which is clear in God’s word, but we listen and we’re even open to submitting to others even when some of our differences might remain.
Wisdom does not depend on how much knowledge a man manages to acquire but on how a man conducts himself in his every day life. Godly wisdom is exhibited in the way that a man applies all that he has learned from the Word of God in his everyday life and in the decisions and choices he makes.
The personification of Godly Wisdom is discovered in one Man alone the Man Christ Jesus, for He is incarnate wisdom. The Lord Jesus is wisdom manifest in human flesh, and He is the living example of a life that is walking in spirit and truth. Jesus is not only the image of the invisible God but He is also the perfect representation of the way that godly men and god-fearing women should live.
This passage provides a profound exploration of wisdom and its implications for one's conduct and character. It challenges readers to seek wisdom from above, embodying virtues such as purity, peace, mercy, and righteousness, and to reject the destructive influences of envy and selfish ambition.
May this important question be asked of all who are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Who among you is wise and who has understanding? And may we all with our action and attitude reflect the same resounding reply, which was identified by James in his singular epistle so that by God's grace we reflect the beauty and wisdom of the Lord Jesus, both by our good behaviour and through the gentleness of spirit which alone comes from the Lord Himself!!!
Father thank You for this day and the Words You pinned through James and its thought provoking content. Lord open the floodgates of heaven and pour out Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord may we reflect You, Who are the personification of Godly Wisdom and our perfect, representative Man. Lord thankYou that in You we have a living example of what a life that is walking in spirit and truth should be. Lord use my friend to be someone’s blessing today. Be a blessing.
Father, we love You amen !
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