The Other Wisdom
Where does your wisdom come from?
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. - James 3:13-18
James gives us two types of wisdom to consider, wisdom from above and earthly wisdom. He advises us to stick with the former and stay away from the latter, for it is borne of envy and selfish ambition which lead to wickedness.
The wisdom from above, he tells us, is impartial and true, devoid of hypocrisy and firmly grounded in peace and gentleness.
But we live in a world filled with that other wisdom, the wisdom that comes from desire and greed, self-interest and envy. How do we hold onto the wisdom of truth when confronted by actions of evil?
James goes on to tell us that those who wish to be friends with the world will be enemies with God, so he doesn't seem to be saying we should seek to make peace with those who seek to do evil. There is another plane that we are aspiring to then, one that is in concert with God and His wishes for humanity, His children.
I think this is where we get all caught up in our faith. We seek peace with those whose aim is to destroy. That makes us partners in their crime, doesn't it?
What we need to do is reach for God and act out of love for Him and all His creation. That doesn't translate well into world diplomacy and global strategy, does it?
So, I think we need to pray for wisdom, wisdom from above. Foe all we know from here below is not working.
More to come...