Wisdom from Above

Wisdom from Above. What is wisdom? What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? Is everyone who has great learning or great intelligence wise?

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:13-18, NKJV

Wisdom from Above. What is wisdom? What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? Is everyone who has great learning or great intelligence wise?

Wisdom from Above - What it is Not!

James begins by asking the question, "Who is wise and understanding among you?" Then, he continues by telling us what is not wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

So, what is not wisdom? Boasting and lying against the truth is not wisdom. Sadly, do you know what this reminds me of? This reminds me of many of our mainstream journalists! However, it does not stop there.

Recently, my husband and I decided to watch some old black and white reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. We only watched a few episodes and then could not watch any more. Everyone on the show lied! Oh, they were only little white lies so to speak and were uttered to keep something secret or protect someone's feelings. But, is that right? James tells us that lying is not wisdom.

Rather, lying and boasting is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Remember, we are in a discussion about true faith vs works. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we do not want to be earthly, sensual, demonic! So what is true wisdom from above?

Wisdom from Above - What it Is!

How does James describe wisdom from above?

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Look at the adjectives used to describe wisdom.

Pure

Peaceable

Gentle

Willing to yield

Full of mercy and good fruits

Without partiality

Without hypocrisy

Does that describe you and me? Does that describe most of those in our culture who are thought to be wise? Is God fooled? Does God excuse the "great, noble, and powerful of this world"? Do they operate under a different set of rules? Do we?

James closes this chapter with a very interesting comment. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Peace!! Is that not what we all want? World Peace!!

Wisdom from Above - Conclusion

So, what is the conclusion of the matter.

Wisdom from above is evidenced by the fruit of the spirit.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV

What would our world be like if our world leaders exhibited the fruit of the spirit? What would our personal life be like if we exhibited the fruit of the spirit?

God, alone, can grant true wisdom. We can all attain knowledge, but sadly, very few have true wisdom!

God Bless You,

Linda