The Wise Demonstrate Wisdom

James is passionate about followers of Jesus embodying the faith they believe. In our passage yesterday, we see how everyone demonstrates wisdom as James distinguishes between earthly wisdom and wisdom from above.

What is produced in our lives is evidence of the wisdom we are living.

Earthly wisdom produces “bitter envy” (the desire for what we think we need along with the resentment thinking others have) and “selfish ambition” (self-focused solutions believe things would be better if done “our way.”) This deceitful way of thinking is regularly disguised as, “just wanting what’s best.” The insidious nature of these two attributes is why James highlights them, not just as “unspiritual” but as demonic. A fruit of this wisdom is grumbling and complaining about the circumstances and people we interact with.

The wisdom of God, however, produces something incredible. It is “first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.“ Can you imagine a person like this? Can you imagine being this person?

In Christ, with the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can. This results in a community sowing and cultivating peace as ministers of reconciliation and restoration. Our first step in facing Jesus and moving toward Him as we walk with wisdom is a posture of humility. Receive His love, then reflect it.
Here I am, Lord. Send me.