James 1 - The Wisdom Of The Brother Of JesusНамуна

What is ‘wisdom’?

There is one precious piece of luggage required for the journey toward Christian wholeness in the midst of trials. It is ‘wisdom’.

Wisdom may seem a strange necessity for times of trial until we remember what the Bible means by this term. In modern usage ‘wisdom’ often means something like ‘intelligence’ or ‘insight’. It is an intellectual term. 

In the Bible, though, wisdom has to do with behaviour as much as with the mind. From the Old Testament book of Proverbs right through to the book of James, biblical ‘wisdom’ means understanding how to live in God’s world. To know how to act in accordance with God’s will in the many and varied circumstances of life is to be wise (see, for example, Prov 1:1-3).

Our great need in the midst of trials, says James, is not so much a better understanding of theology or a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit (as valuable as these are); it is ‘wisdom’, clarity about how to walk God’s way in God’s world.

But how do you get wisdom? You “ask God,” James says, “who gives generously to all without finding fault” (1:5). Wisdom is a gift. The phrase ‘without finding fault’ tells us that it is the Lord’s delight to offer wisdom to those who ask sincerely. 

Am I double-minded?

But no sooner has James offered these words of comfort than he adds a seemingly harsh qualification. According to verses 6-8, the Lord’s generosity does not extend to doubters, to those described as ‘double-minded’. What does this mean? 

To ‘doubt’ God is to refuse to entrust yourself to him. James’ point is simply that when you ask for wisdom, you should do so in an attitude of sincere devotion to the Lord and His ways. 

Ethics over intelligence

The ethical emphasis of biblical wisdom stands in marked contrast to the values of contemporary society. Our world prizes knowledge, intelligence and shrewdness and it often ignores the need for virtue. 

The wall of self-help books in the local bookstore demonstrates the point. There, you will find all manner of tomes on romance, communication, sexual pleasure, meditation, financial advancement, physical exercise and time management. But hardly a page will be found on what constitutes the good and moral life. ‘Wisdom’ in our day has been emptied of its original biblical content: knowing how to live in God’s world. 

Christians must value godliness over cleverness, compassion over knowledge, generosity over financial nous and justice over intellectual achievement. That’s what it means to be wise.