Theme: It Takes a Good
Wisdom to Build Character – Series 22
James
3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that
comes from wisdom” (NIV).
One
of my favorite verse is James 1:5 because I often lack wisdom in writing manna
so I ask God, the Author for wisdom and He is willing and generous to give
wisdom. The wisdom is to know how it
applied to me and help me understand what God’s Word is teaching. And then to share with you my Manna what I
have learned.
When
James quoted, “If any of you lack wisdom,”
the commentary explain: Wisdom means the
spiritual ability to see and evaluate life and action from God’s point of
view. It involves in making right
choices and doing the right things according to both the will of God revealed
in His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We can receive wisdom by drawing near to God and asking for it in faith.”
[The
Full Life Study Bible, D. Stamps]
James
also explained the difference between “good wisdom and carnal wisdom.” So James
asked, ‘Who is wise among you?’ Good wisdom
is to show it by good life, and good deeds in humility. Carnal wisdom is bitter
envy and selfish heart (3:14). This kind
of carnal “wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual,
demonic” (3:15).
“But the wisdom that comes down from heaven is
first of all pure; then peace—loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy
and good fruit, impartial and sincere”
(3:17). [Impartial means treating all
equally].
Wisdom is a person whose heart is pure, peaceful, gentle, thoughtful, meekness,
kindness and a good character showing equally and a sincere heart. May the Holy
Spirit dwell in our hearts to bring forth good fruits.
Most
important of all is to listen to the wisdom of Jesus. Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of
Mine, and does them.” Here’s the wisdom
Jesus used as an example of one man built his house on the rock. When the storm came, his house was founded on
the rock and it did not fall. This is
the character of a wise man who listen and practice Jesus’ Word (Matthew
7:24-25).
Jesus
also add a warning about a foolish man who hears these sayings of Jesus, but a
foolish man does not do it. The foolish
man built his house on the sand. When
the storm came, his house was destroyed completely (Matthew 7:26-27).
Jesus
used the comparison between the wise and foolish man in his story. Jesus explained the result on both
sides. What a difference it makes when
one is wise and another is not so wise.
The wise man had wisdom that builds his character.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I
want to thank You for showing me what wisdom is like through the book of James
and through the Word of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for helping me to continue
to understand the wisdom of Your Holy Word. Thank You for giving me wisdom to
love my family and love my friends and help them understand the wisdom of Your
Holy Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!
God
bless you!
Dorothy
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