TWO KINDS OF WISDOM

JAMES 3:13-17 NKJ 
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. 

Here James gets right to the point. If you are wise and understanding, it will show up in how you live your life. A good honorable life with the humility that comes from godly wisdom.   

But, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don't boast about it and deny the truth.   

James then lets us know where this "wisdom" comes from. It's not from heaven. It's earthly, unspiritual, demonic. How about that for shooting straight? 

This earthly, unspiritual, demonic wisdom of envy and self-seeking breeds confusion and every evil practice.   

Thank God there is a different kind of wisdom. A wisdom sourced from heaven and James tells us what this wisdom looks like. The Amplified Bible gives us a great explanation of this godly wisdom. “But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].” That's quite a mouthful, but that's why it's called The Amplified Bible. 

However, once we see what heaven's wisdom is, we now have a grid to lay over our actions and motives. How many relational conflicts could be resolved with people operating in this wisdom from above? Would being courteous, considerate, and willing to listen be a much better strategy? Or do we think that rude, pushy, and angry is working in our culture?   
 

APPLICATION: 

Long before social media became a thing, James wrote these God-inspired words contrasting godly vs. earthly wisdom.   

But if any message has become clear, it's that the earthly, unspiritual, demonic wisdom is not helping our country, church, family, and it's not helping our inner life. Strife, self-seeking rudeness, and total lack of mercy or willingness to listen is hurting us. And it's producing confusion and evil all around us.   

So let's get back to godly wisdom. We've had enough confusion, division, and evil. God's wisdom is greater and produces good things, and as the church of the Lord Jesus, this is how we are called to live.   

PRAYER: 

Dear Father, show me where I have not walked in Your wisdom. Help me to adjust and make corrections. I want to walk in Your wisdom.