Truly Wise

Truly Wise

Reading: James 1-5 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! 17 The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:13, 17-18 NLT) Do you want to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what wisdom is not. Here’s what wisdom is. This is not rocket science, friends! We can do this!

What wisdom is not:
• Mean-spirited ambition.
• Boasting that you are wise.
• Twisting the simple truth to make yourself sound wise.
• Being two-faced.
• Trying to look better than others or get the better of others. What wisdom is:
• Living a life of steady goodness, in which a stream of good deeds pours forth like a spring of cool, clear water.
• Being gentle and reasonable, not demanding your own way, not demanding to be in first place, and making every effort to get along with others.
• Never showing favoritism and never, ever, being two-faced.
• Being willing to do the hard work of making peace with difficult people, in difficult situations.
• Always treating others with dignity and honor. I don’t know how this hits you, but it looks to me like real wisdom in God’s eyes is demonstrated in a right attitude towards self (True humility), and a right attitude towards others (Treating them with mercy, dignity, and honor). What do you think? It’s not smarts, it’s hearts! Prayer: Father, I continue my life-long prayer to you for the gift of true wisdom. Thanks for the reminder about what wisdom is and is not. Please keep opening the eyes of my heart to see things the way you see them. I purpose to remember what I see and to live what I learn. Amen.