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Wisdom From Above - James 3
Wisdom From Above - James 3
In chapter one, James encourages us to seek wisdom, praying to God for it. He then instructs us to look intently at God’s word, hear it, abide in it, and do it (1:21-25). Using the Word as a mirror, what image should we see as we look into it? James, here in chapter three, describes what a man endowed with wisdom from above looks like. It shows in our behavior! By our fruits it will be known what manner of people we are.
Negatively: earthly and worldly wisdom is ‘natural’ and ‘demonic’. Its source is NOT from God, but from men doing what is right in their own eyes. It comes from the same rebellious spirt as demons who refused to abide in their prescribed domains. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. The ways of the world are not God’s ways (see Isa. 55:7-9; Rom. 12:1-3). Living by such ‘wisdom’ produces selfish ambition, arrogance and pride, jealousy, disorder, and general evil.
Positively: wisdom from God produces good behavior, gentleness, peace, purity, steadfastness.
Be honest with yourself, what do you see in your life as you examine it? HOW do you compare? What is YOUR image?
Hugh DeLong
