Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 4Sample

What stood out to me in today's verse are the words "TRUE WISDOM" – automatically, I go to a place where if there is true wisdom, then there must be false wisdom.

James helps us to understand the difference in this chapter.

False wisdom is earthly (secular), natural (unspiritual), even demonic – this stems from a heart full of jealousy and selfish ambition – this is a critical heart – a heart that sees only what is wrong. A heart full of criticism. The challenge for us as believers is to be able to tell the truth about the way the world is, and the way wicked people are behaving, without turning into grumpy people whose idea of ‘wisdom’ is cutting words about everyone and everything.

There is still, after all, a vast amount of beauty, love, generosity, and sheer goodness in the world. Those who follow Jesus ought not only to be celebrating it but contributing to it.

That is why James enlightens us with these words.

True wisdom – this is wisdom from above - pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile.]

True Wisdom comes ‘from above’ – pray for it!! It's better, as the saying goes, to light a candle than to curse the darkness.