Test Your Faith (James) No.13- What Wisdom Looks Like

Wisdom is the guiding force, directing our decisions. The kind of wisdom we embrace determines the choices we make. In its simplest form, there are only 2 kinds of wisdom. There’s earthly wisdom and there’s Heavenly wisdom. Earthly wisdom starts off ok. It's alluring, promising, satisfying. Even people in churches are drawn to earthly wisdom. But earthly wisdom’s cunning is inspired by our own selfish, sinful lusts that draw us away from following Jesus. The consequences of earthly wisdom vary from small stupid choices, all the way to destructive, vile, evil. Heavenly wisdom is the opposite. It’s inspired by a desire for humility, peace, mercy, & a harvest of righteousness. It seems like it should be easy to tell the two apart. But most people can’t tell the difference until it’s too late. What makes it difficult is earthly wisdom doesn’t start out looking demonic, if that were true it would be easy to spot. But that’s where it ends up if you can’t spot earthly wisdom soon enough & know how to deal with it. These two kinds of wisdom couldn’t be more different & being able to tell them apart is an important test of our faith. (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.