Heavenly Wisdom
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
As many of you know I entered seminary this year as a response to a call I felt on my life. I wanted to know more, a deeper understanding, yet school is against the grain of my past. I hated school and did just enough to get by. I am paying for those poor decisions now. The wisdom that James is speaking of here is not the knowledge gained in a book, but gained in a relationship and grown in the heart. The Gospel is where the change must begin, and only through Christ is the wisdom of the heart ever attained. We can fill our minds full of seminary knowledge, but unless it produces fruit from that relationship; it is a useless endeavor.
This passage in James in similar to the Gospel in that you must understand the bad news, (you are dead in sin without Christ), before you understand the good news, (Christ provided a way of forgiving that sin for eternity). The scriptures before in James show earthly, self seeking wisdom. James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. These passages speak of a prideful person who seeks the glory of their wisdom. They are more concerned with their opinions and beliefs that pointing the lost to Christ through their testimonies. This is a wisdom based in pride and straight from hell as James says.
Matthew Henry spoke of this heavenly wisdom: “It is gentle, not standing upon extreme right in matters of property; not saying nor doing any thing rigorous in points of censure; not being furious about opinions, urging our own beyond their weight nor theirs who oppose us beyond their intention; not being rude and overbearing in conversation, nor harsh and cruel in temper. Gentleness may thus be opposed to all these.” Humility is a backbone in heavenly wisdom. Pride cannot co-exist with heavenly wisdom. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6). To attain this heavenly wisdom requires no college degree, but only a humble heart and the desire to draw near. The pursuit of God and the things of God, will make you wise and tug your heart to share what you have gained with others.
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