James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. (14) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. (15) This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (16) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. (18) And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

There are two kinds of wisdom, that which comes from above and the wisdom that comes from the world. Often in life we strive for wisdom but it is the wrong kind. The wisdom from the world is rooted in selfish ambition, boasting, and bitter jealousy. James calls it unspiritual and demonic. It is hard to imagine that earthly wisdom is demonic, but when we understand that anything we do outside of the Lord is displeasing to the Him, it makes sense why James would call it demonic. Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Lately I have been studying through the book of Ecclesiastes and King Solomon describes the pursuit of worldly wisdom like this:

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. (Ecc 1:13-18 emphasis added)

The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, impartial, and sincere. It is a different kind of wisdom that comes from a difference place in the human heart. Next time we will look more closely at the wisdom from above James is talking about here…

Prayer

Lord, help me to pursue the wisdom that comes from above. What does it profit a man to gain the entire world and forfeit his soul? I long to seek after you and the true wisdom that you have to offer. Amen