“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)
Do you think of yourself as a wise person? Why? Or why not? Perhaps a better question might be: Do you WANT to be wise? What IS wisdom? According to Strong’s the word used in the verse above means: “skilled, expert: of artificers; skilled in letters, cultivated, learned.” Examples used were Greek philosophers and orators; Jewish theologians and Christian teachers. Perhaps a more concrete way to think of wisdom is: “forming the best plans and using the best means for their execution.”
Who do you first think of as an example of a wise person? Solomon, King David’s son? Jesus? Your mom or dad? Grandparents? Pastor? What criteria do you use when determining whether a person is wise? According to James, the proverbial “proof is in the pudding!”
The verse following the one above says: “But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”
What characterizes your life? James defines wisdom as: “…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. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”
What’s the bottom line? Wisdom is fluid, not stagnant; kind, caring, inviting, like Jesus. It isn’t about how smart you are, how witty or swaying in your arguments. It’s more about how you live and move and have your being. You’re thoughtful, courageous, not pushy, or quick tempered. A wise person assesses a situation before offering an opinion or giving advice.
As I ponder the wise people in my life, past and present, they are ravenous learners, always seeking to understand their role in God’s eternal Kingdom. Am I implying that someone who isn’t a believer can’t be wise? Of course not, but as I understand Scripture, wisdom will ultimately drive a person to the foot of the Cross, especially when they see themselves in the face of eternity.
The greater measure of wisdom we possess, the better we treat others and the more vulnerable we become to correction from God’s Word. Wisdom isn’t being the proverbial “know-it-all;” it’s understanding how best to apply truth to a given situation. Life is the greatest puzzle we’ll ever solve, and the irony is, the final pieces won’t be discovered until we leave this life.
Wisdom holds life with open hands, always remembering it’s not ours to live alone. Life is a gift that God gives us upon which He creates the tapestry of our purpose. To some it will seem disjointed and random, perhaps even to ourselves. But the closer we walk with Jesus the clearer the pattern becomes and the greater our understanding that we’re not the Author or finisher of this life – He is.
To the extent we yield control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, to that extent we’ll give evidence of our wisdom.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 