The Beauty of Real Wisdom
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
So, let me ask you, what does real wisdom look like? If you ran into some powerful, godly wisdom, how would you recognise it.
People who roll over the top of others, who succeed at the expense of those around them, well, no, that’s not wisdom is it?
People who are in it for themselves, full of selfish ambition, people who get jealous whenever anyone around them succeeds … no that’s not wisdom either, no matter how successful those people might be.
I want to share with you today, the best, the most powerful, the most reliable definition of wisdom that I have ever come across:
… the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. (James 3:17-18)
Real wisdom comes from above; from God. It’s pure, completely untainted by partiality, self-interest or envy. Purity is fantastic isn’t it. It kind of rings out – simple, beautiful, unmistakable. It’s just the sort of wisdom you know is from God because it’s peaceable.
You and I are called to be peacemakers. To navigate in love through conflict and strife. The most powerful and influential leaders I know are peaceable and gentle. Gentleness is such an underrated quality these days.
I wonder what opportunities lie ahead for you, today, to be gentle with people? Hmm? Great wisdom is willing to yield. When someone else has a better idea, when someone else is heading in a direction that you know in your heart of hearts to be right – real wisdom, godly wisdom, is willing to yield.
Full of mercy for others – because all those annoying people out there are going to make mistakes. They’re going to rub you the wrong way. And when they’re behaving badly, mercy forgives. After all, mercy is only mercy, if it’s undeserved.
Godly wisdom is full of good fruit, without a single trace of partiality and hypocrisy. Real wisdom yields a harvest of peace.
Wow! Just stop and take those two verses – James 3:17-18 – and imagine how your world would change, if you lived your life like that. Because that’s the very sort of wisdom that God wants for you. That’s the very sort of wisdom that He has ready and waiting for you.
Why is it that we think that selfishness and partiality is the way to get ahead? Why is it that we imagine that we always have to put our best foot forward, so that everyone will think well of us?
Let me ask you, do you think well of those sorts of people?
There is a different sort of wisdom waiting for you. Live that wisdom and may your life yield a harvest of righteousness and peace.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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