Thursday, February 27, 2014

Godly Wisdom vs. Earthly Wisdom



I've been studying the book of James recently (one of my favorite books!) and as I studied James 3:13-18, it struck me how God characterizes both “earthly” wisdom and “godly” wisdom:

Godly Wisdom                                                          Earthly Wisdom
Good conversation (lifestyle) (v13)                 Bitter envying (v14)
Meekness (v13)                                                       Strife (v14)
Pure (v17)                                                                 Sensual (v15)
Peaceable (v17)                                                       Devilish (v15)
Gentle (v17)                                                             Confusion (v16)
Easy to entreat                                                       Evil works (v16)
(compliant, open to reason)             
FULL of mercy (v17)
& good fruits (v17)
Without partiality (v17)
Without hypocrisy (v17)

Wow!  If we want to know if someone truly has godly wisdom, we just need to examine the characteristics above!  We all know people who appear to be so “wise” – they know every scripture reference, can explain most if not all doctrines (teachings); they’ve taught classes or seminars or preached a sermon – yet they seem somehow “unreachable” or “above” the rest of us…there is little or no mercy or gentleness about them; if you’re not part of their “inner circle” you somehow feel like a 2nd class citizen…and there is certainly no openness to reason, no willingness to hear the thoughts or concerns or questions of others...

These people, then, would have “earthly” wisdom, according to scripture, not “godly” wisdom.  For something to be godly, it must have the characteristics of GOD himself!  And God is certainly none of those things!  Knowledge, therefore, does not equal wisdom; wisdom is knowledge encased in the characteristics of verse 17 – the characteristics of God!                 

Huh!  I love it when God reveals more of Himself to me!!  Check it out for yourself - He's waiting to reveal himself to you as well. 

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