James 3:13-18
Today's Passage: James 3:13-18
How can we know if we are wise or foolish? James three tells us that the proof of wisdom is found in our deeds. We know this to be true when dealing with others. We can often determine a person’s character, maturity, and wisdom within the first few minutes of meeting them by the way they talk, act, and treat others. Our actions come from an overflow of the heart and can be a window into who we really are. If you were to take the time to examine your own actions, what would you find, wisdom or folly?
Godly wisdom can be difficult to judge. What does godly wisdom look like when it is lived out? James makes the bold claim that we can't be wise while having selfish ambition and jealousy in our hearts. They are at odds with one another. So to put it another way, godly wisdom is focused on God and others rather than ourselves.
James supports this in verse 17 by saying wisdom is “first pure.” Focused on God as the primary source of wisdom. Are you seeking the Lord for wisdom that is greater than what this world offers? Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” God must be the foundation for our wisdom.
James continues, “…then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” He lists some byproducts of godly wisdom. Notice that these byproducts are focused on others over ourselves. Godly wisdom is not looking out for number 1. Godly wisdom is not cold and indifferent to the people around us. Godly wisdom sets aside selfish ambition and considered others more important than ourselves. These traits reflect God’s character and heart toward us. “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Time to take inventory, do you see those byproducts of godly wisdom in your life? The good news is that we aren’t required to be perfect. All of us can be fools at times. The aim of this passage is to seek the Lord for wisdom and then to let our conduct reflect the goodness and character of our God.
Written By: Joe Weaver
How can we know if we are wise or foolish? James three tells us that the proof of wisdom is found in our deeds. We know this to be true when dealing with others. We can often determine a person’s character, maturity, and wisdom within the first few minutes of meeting them by the way they talk, act, and treat others. Our actions come from an overflow of the heart and can be a window into who we really are. If you were to take the time to examine your own actions, what would you find, wisdom or folly?
Godly wisdom can be difficult to judge. What does godly wisdom look like when it is lived out? James makes the bold claim that we can't be wise while having selfish ambition and jealousy in our hearts. They are at odds with one another. So to put it another way, godly wisdom is focused on God and others rather than ourselves.
James supports this in verse 17 by saying wisdom is “first pure.” Focused on God as the primary source of wisdom. Are you seeking the Lord for wisdom that is greater than what this world offers? Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” God must be the foundation for our wisdom.
James continues, “…then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” He lists some byproducts of godly wisdom. Notice that these byproducts are focused on others over ourselves. Godly wisdom is not looking out for number 1. Godly wisdom is not cold and indifferent to the people around us. Godly wisdom sets aside selfish ambition and considered others more important than ourselves. These traits reflect God’s character and heart toward us. “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Time to take inventory, do you see those byproducts of godly wisdom in your life? The good news is that we aren’t required to be perfect. All of us can be fools at times. The aim of this passage is to seek the Lord for wisdom and then to let our conduct reflect the goodness and character of our God.
Written By: Joe Weaver
1 Comment
Great blog message on Godly wisdom!