REAL FAITH WALKS IN GOD’S WISDOM
Solomon is known as the wisest person who has ever lived (other than Jesus); he wrote about the importance of acquiring and loving wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-7). God uses wisdom to guide and guard our lives. Biblical wisdom is the God-given, Spirit-enabled capacity to fear the Lord, see life from God’s perspective and live in humble, obedient, fruit-bearing alignment with His will. We just need to go to God when we need wisdom (James 1:5). We need wisdom to live this life filled with challenges and difficulties! But wisdom is not just knowledge of what to do but is shown in our actions.
Shows in Humble Action
As James wrote, we are to show good behavior in the gentleness (Gk prautes: often translated as meekness, humility or gentleness; signifies “power under control” describing a humble, gentle, and yielding attribute that stems from godly wisdom) of wisdom (James 3:13). Wisdom is what you do with what you know. King David and Solomon both wrote about godly wisdom, showing the connection between knowledge and action (Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 9:10).
Wisdom is humbly admitting that you don’t know everything and you need God’s help. When Solomon asked God for wisdom, the Lord was pleased with him and gave him what he asked for, and so much more. Sadly, king Solomon’s heart (who taught that we should guard our hearts) was not wholly devoted to God as his father David has been (1 Kings 11:4). This is a warning for all of us — we need God’s help to walk in His wisdom. David actually committed a “greater” sin than Solomon (murder), but he repented of it. Wisdom is shown through humility in repentance when we do sin (Psalm 51:6-7). Wisdom shows in humble action!
Shapes Christlike Character
When you look into your heart and see jealousy or selfish ambition, do not be arrogant and lie about it (James 3:14). Earthly wisdom is all about me — focus on yourself is earthly, natural and demonic. It does not consider heavenly things, it’s based on feelings and desires to replace God in our lives. This is the wisdom “from below”, and results in disorder or chaos in our world, even if we have more knowledge today than ever before (vv. 15-16). Does disorder or evil “fruits” follow your life? Or is your life characterized by God’s wisdom?
PURE | Holy, no hint of evil in action or intent. |
PEACEABLE | Peace-loving, pursues peace even when wronged. |
GENTLE | Kind. Even when right, acts with tender strength & patience. |
REASONABLE | Teachable, willing to listen and yield. |
FULL OF MERCY | Compassionate and gracious. |
FULL OF GOOD FRUITS | Bears the fruit of the Spirit. Multiplies goodness. |
UNWAVERING | Not swayed. Committed. |
WITHOUT HYPOCRISY | Sincere and genuine. “What you see is what you get”. |
The fruit of righteousness comes from a seed — you have to plant it, and it takes time to grow (James. 3:18). When you plant actions that come from godly wisdom, that is the seed that produce righteousness. The seeds or wisdom are sown by people of peace; and the anger of man is not peace (James 1:19-20).
Strengthens Relationships
Quarrels are the opposite of strengthening relationships and comes from our selfish pleasures (James 4:1). James was writing to Christians who were supposed to be “new creation”. But it is these selfish pleasures that cause the inner war in us. This inner conflict produces the outward quarrels (James 4:2). James is also saying that if we want something, we should ask God. However, often when we pray, we are selfish and so that we don’t receive what we have asked for (James 4:3). We are God-centered in form, but self-centered in aim. To paraphrase:
You fight because your desires rule you
You don’t have because you refuse to depend on God
And even when you pray, you pray to serve those same desires
So God, in grace, withholds what would enslave you further
Out of wisdom from below, self-centered desires rule the heart, inner wars abound and outer conflicts result that fractures relationships. But God’s wisdom produces God-centered desire that reshapes the heart; peace takes root and produces a harvest of righteousness that strengthens relationships. Godly wisdom will sometimes not humanly make sense…but humbly following it reaps a reward that will only make sense in the end. God’s wisdom enables us to see far beyond the here and now, and to live in alignment to God’s will. Wisdom is not just something God gives us; wisdom has a Name — Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). We need a Savior to be able to walk in God’s wisdom! Trust in Jesus today, and live out God’s wisdom given to us in Christ!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What kind of wisdom is shaping my life right now?
How does humility show up (or not) in everyday life?
What do my relationships reveal about my heart?
PRAY CARE SHARE IN ACTION
Pray that more people in our country will walk in God’s wisdom.
Set an example for them as you share Christ’s love by your actions and words.
Share the gospel consistently, so that others can experience God’s wisdom in their lives through Jesus Christ — the Wisdom of God!