Wisdom from Above (James 3:13-18)

Redeeming Life Church, 

What makes one wise? To understand this question, we need to understand what wisdom is?  How do we define it?  

I once heard a friend say, "Education is knowing a tomato is a fruit.  Wisdom is knowing not to put it on a fruit salad."  This might be one way to get at wisdom, but is it enough?  Is this wisdom from the world's vantage point or is it wisdom from the Lord?   What is wisdom from the Lord, and how do we get wise from this kind of wisdom?  

This Sunday we'll be working through James 3:13-18.  More importantly, we'll look at godly wisdom and its effects.  This is a short text so I'd like to encourage you to start reading it.  Think about it.  Pray through it.  What is God saying to you from this Scripture?  

In addition, the Rose Park Festival is coming and we've entered into a 10-day season of intentional prayer and fasting.  Here's a short video with more info. 

James writes, "Who is wise and understanding among  you?" (James 3:13-18).  That's a great question.  How will we know a wise person when we see him or her.  The next verse says that we'll know by his or her good conduct and works as well as an observable meekness of wisdom.  This person most likely demonstrates wisdom that is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."  

James also shows us what the opposite of godly wisdom looks like, and it is ugly.  

Then he ends with a beautiful statement.  He says, "A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace" (James 3:18, ESV).  It is wise to be a peace maker, and if that peace is sown from seeds of wisdom, the harvest of righteousness will be plentiful.  

This last verse causes me to think that wisdom from above leads to peace.  the wisdom of man leads to the opposite of peace.  Do you have peace?  Or is peace far from you?  Do you want peace?  If so, you would be wise to seek the wisdom of the Lord. 

We'll see you Sunday, 
Pastor Bryan