Wisdom from Above

Some days I just need a lot more wisdom. In many ways, even as old as I am, I don't make wise choices every time. (Of course, that probably doesn't apply to you, right? But you may learn something from reading along...) If you were to say where wisdom comes from, where would it be? From knowing a lot? From bad experiences leading you to not making the same mistakes? The apostle James, half-brother of Jesus, tells us something in chapter 3, verses 13-18. Let's look, briefly.

"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." So here, an honorable life is the result of wisdom; and our good works are to be filled with humility, not selfish ambition. "If there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying." The wrong use of the tongue can create a lot of pain, but Jesus-in-us leads us to words of hope and life.

"Jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom." We don't have to look far to see peoples' words self-justifying and supporting their selfish ambitions. But that's not the sort of speech that the Holy Spirit inspires. We can't go down that road of careless or self-seeking speech, while living as someone being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2) and made more like Christ every day (2 Cor. 3:18).
"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 the fruit of good deeds." That looks like the opposite of self-seeking, doesn't it? Purity of our motives, loving peace, being gentle, letting others have the priority -- those are traits given us by the Holy Spirit, not by our broken humanity. How often can we say we have only those traits? And when we lack those, which may be often or only occasionally, we have to fall back on the mercy of Jesus--not only for forgiveness of our sins in speaking, but for him to give us the love and humility we need so badly.

Humility, in fact, seems to be a major factor in wisdom, throughout this passage. Not the false humility of being 'down on ourselves' but the true humility of letting Jesus lead, instead of our selfishness; and valuing others as "better than ourselves" as Jesus did (Phil. 2:3).

How can we learn and practice that humility? First of all, being willing to honestly face our own motives, at the throne of grace. I have to admit, I'm often moved by self-protection or some kind of ambition, and have to constantly be on guard for that, surrendering my agenda and my methods to the move of the Spirit instead. How about you?

Finally here, James encourages us about this wisdom/humility trait, writing "And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." Godly wisdom from the Holy Spirit, with humility as its major component, adds to our peace and the peace of others. Need more of it? Just ask, and be ready to receive!