Wisdom From Above

Wisdom From Above

Reading: 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13 NLT) I tend to think of wisdom in terms of saying the right thing at the right time, having the answer to a difficult question, figuring out the solution to a sticky problem. Godly wisdom is much more than being clever or smart. Not Wisdom: 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. (James 3:14-15 NLT) When you and I look into the mirror of God’s Word, if we see jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, and lying reflected back at us, we’re not living a life that flows out of God’s heart of love, grace, and wisdom.

True Wisdom: 17 But 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 3:17-18 NLT) Wisdom from God: Pure (unmixed); Loves and labors for peace; Gentle (not pushy or bullying); Willing to yield (humbly submitted to God, sweetly submissive to others); Full of Mercy (mercy wins over judgment); Full of Good Deeds (it’s not what you say, it’s what you do!); No favoritism (how are you doing with this?); Sincere (what you see is what you get); Peacemaking (wisdom isn’t winning the argument, it’s healing the relationships!) Prayer: Father, May I be a wise and humble servant, not a clever winner of arguments. May I be a clean vessel through which pure wisdom may flow unpolluted by selfish ambition. Amen.