James: Model of an Authentic Christian LifeSample

We often think wise people are successful; therefore, we assume successful people are wise. Social media and self-help books are filled with people who have accomplished something wonderful and want the world to know it. However, there’s a difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom.

Worldly wisdom shows off, loudly telling everyone how wise they are. It’s not automatically wrong to want to share the wisdom you’ve gained, but our instinct is to brag about our own wisdom and what we’ve accomplished.

James tells us to go against that instinct and act with humility instead. Godly wisdom shows us who we are in the grand scheme of things and doesn’t try to outdo others. In the letter to the Romans (Romans 12:3), Paul says, “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”

Worldly wisdom doesn’t allow other people to distract you from what you want in life. But the wisdom that comes from God is “first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” It is a wisdom that first of all pleases God and then loves others. What kind of wisdom are you seeking?

Prayer: Dear God, all around me I see and hear the wisdom of the world. It wants me to gain wealth and prioritize myself. I want to live changed. Help me to have godly wisdom, so that I can love people better. Amen