The wisdom that is from above

Bible Reading: James 3
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

There is an earthly wisdom and there is a wisdom from above. God is his word wants us to be able to distinguish between the two. How do we know the difference? The difference has to do with us either being peacemakers or causing strife. If we cause strife, the wisdom we are following is from below.

James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

The world, the flesh and the devil are at work when there is bitter envying and strife. But where there is purity and righteousness being sown by peacemakers, there is heavenly wisdom at work.

Look around you at the situations in your life. Are these sowing peace or strife? Look at the political world - strife. Look at the United Nations - strife. Look at your family... Look at your church...

What is being sown? What kind of wisdom is it? Jesus said:

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

You will be called a child of God if you are a peacemaker. Godly wisdom in all it's purity, gentleness, mercy and good fruits is easy to be intreated. In other words, you can ask a Godly wise person a question and they will listen to you. If you seek the wisdom from above, you will live a life of integrity and not walk in hypocrisy.

Are you walking in godly wisdom? Jesus said the wise man hears the sayings of his and does them. Are you walking in the Spirit? One more thing about wisdom. The Bible promises if you need it, ask for it in faith and God will give it to you:

James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

In Christ,
rody