Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? By His good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.                                                                         James 3:13-17

     Wisdom is a gift from God, as Proverbs 2 says “the Lord gives wisdom,” In these verses we are told that true wisdom comes from above and is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, merciful, full of good fruits, impartial, and sincere. But the wisdom from this world is unspiritual and demonic. And that which does not come from above is not of God. Therefore we should want nothing to do with it. Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are both things that come from the world and are not good qualities to have. In this verse James says that we should show our good works in meekness, in other words, show your wisdom with an attitude of trusting God and not promoting yourself. But if you do have jealousy and selfish ambition do not boast in those! For they are not the truth set forth from God. And where these two things exist, disorder will follow along with them. But if we are to have wisdom from above that God has given us it will bear fruit and be sincere and true wisdom that God has blessed us with.

   Selfish ambition and jealousy are both two things that I have a difficult time getting rid of. Somehow my selfishness and jealousy of others always pops up in the midst of what I’m doing and gets into my thoughts. And that is where true sincere wisdom comes in and helps us get rid of it. With the wisdom from God we will know to take those unspiritual thoughts captive and to make them obedient to him, not letting the devil get a foothold. He gives us the grace and wisdom to know when we need to refocus and change our trace of thought.

      With wisdom that God has given us we will be able to defeat the temptations of unspiritual thoughts and to in turn be pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial to those around us, and sincere. I pray that God would give me that wisdom that He has promised us if we ask for it in faith.

     Wisdom has never been one of the most important things I’ve prayed for, but while reading this I realize how necessary it is for our daily walk with the Lord. So I pray that in the mornings I would make it a time of asking for not only the filling of the Holy Spirit, but also wisdom as the Lord sees fit to give.