THE TEST OF WISDOM
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom…..But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, the peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. But the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:13, 17-18)
In this letter, James talks a lot about wisdom. How do you tell a wise person from an unwise person? James gives us a score sheet to judge by.
First is the way the person lives – his good conduct clothed in meekness. How many people do we hear whose words fall flat because they are spoken in pride. People who think they have all the answers and their words are pearls of wisdom are self-centered and their goal is to awe and intimidate those of us who are less gifted. Listen to politicians who speak down to their constituents as though they were God's gift to humanity, and everyone should be in awe, bowing reverently before them?
Then James, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives a list of attributes of godly wisdom. It is first pure – that is untainted by ulterior motives. Then, it is gentle – not harsh. It is willing to yield – not demanding. It is full of mercy – if the other person does not accept the wisdom. It is full of good fruits – that is, the proof is in the puddin' whether it is wisdom or not. It is without partiality. Wisdom is the same for everyone independent of social, economic, educational, intelligence status. It is without hypocrisy – without double meaning or ulterior motive.
We need God's wisdom, and this check sheet can help us determine whether we are people of wisdom, or if someone else speaks with wisdom. Even the best words of wisdom will be suspect if they are not spoken purely, gently, without demand, mercifully, yielding good fruit, impartially, or without hypocrisy.
The goal of wisdom is to make peace, even if the circumstances are in turmoil. Wisdom, no matter how good, spoken in anger or with wrong motives does not bring peace. Let us sow the fruit of righteousness and peace by speaking wisely.
Love, Dad
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