How Do You Know if Someone is Wise?
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James continues to exhort the teachers, who he said verses earlier, would be subject to greater judgment. Here he addresses the issue of wisdom. He illustrates two kinds of wisdom, that are quite different from each other. He makes a very stark difference between the two when he says, one is "heavenly", and the other is "earthly, unspiritual and deomonic".
True wisdom which is from above has certain characteristics that come out from the person who claims to have it. The characteristic that stands out to me is "humility". True wisdom comes from someone who is not self seeking and trying to prove themselves to be wise. But their wisdom is also shown by their lives. True wisdom does not create disorder, confusion and strife, but brings about peace, kindness and humility from those who are truly wise. The wise person doesn't sit on the throne on high and spew forth profundity, but is gentle, quiet and submissive and not boastful about their standing.
You can see there is quite a difference between the two types of wisdom James describes today. Unfortunately there were teachers in the early church who exhibited the earthly, unspiritual and demonic kind of wisdom. James knew this kind of teacher was a severe threat to the early church. As you look around the church you might see leaders/teachers that exhibit some of these characteristics, hopefully the good ones. Remember to pray for your teachers that these qualities might be evident in their character. As we see Jesus, the master teacher, we see that His wisdom was pure, peace loving and considerate. His character was always in alignment with what he taught. As we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can truly be wise teachers.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James continues to exhort the teachers, who he said verses earlier, would be subject to greater judgment. Here he addresses the issue of wisdom. He illustrates two kinds of wisdom, that are quite different from each other. He makes a very stark difference between the two when he says, one is "heavenly", and the other is "earthly, unspiritual and deomonic".
True wisdom which is from above has certain characteristics that come out from the person who claims to have it. The characteristic that stands out to me is "humility". True wisdom comes from someone who is not self seeking and trying to prove themselves to be wise. But their wisdom is also shown by their lives. True wisdom does not create disorder, confusion and strife, but brings about peace, kindness and humility from those who are truly wise. The wise person doesn't sit on the throne on high and spew forth profundity, but is gentle, quiet and submissive and not boastful about their standing.
You can see there is quite a difference between the two types of wisdom James describes today. Unfortunately there were teachers in the early church who exhibited the earthly, unspiritual and demonic kind of wisdom. James knew this kind of teacher was a severe threat to the early church. As you look around the church you might see leaders/teachers that exhibit some of these characteristics, hopefully the good ones. Remember to pray for your teachers that these qualities might be evident in their character. As we see Jesus, the master teacher, we see that His wisdom was pure, peace loving and considerate. His character was always in alignment with what he taught. As we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can truly be wise teachers.
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