Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Wisdom and Knowledge; gifts of God
James 3:13-18

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (Vs. 17)

Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom. (vs.13) (Good News Translation)

James has been focusing on how to live as Christians in the midst of trials and temptations.  He shows us false (earthly) wisdom with real (from heaven) wisdom, which can be easily seen in our actions and our behavior. Wisdom does not mean knowledge. It does not mean information. It means the application of knowledge with divine power to reshape our thinking, our attitude and our behavior into good deeds. So wisdom is how we live, having known God.

In the Old Testament we read that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Fear of the Lord means – hatred of evil, turning away from envy, jealousy, malice and pride. James is asking us to take a look at our hearts, and see as to what motivates us. Do we harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in our hearts? (Vs. 14)  If so we must be able to root them out. Like the song we learned at Sunday school – “Root them out, let them go, all the little rabbits in the fields of corn. Envy, jealousy, malicious and pride, all if allowed in my heart will abide.  Earthly wisdom will lead us to selfish ambitions and jealousy; it is consumed with ego and personal gratification. So let us make a conscious effort to root them out.

As Paul says Christ is made unto us wisdom. In 1Cor 1:30 we read that God has united us with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.  The controlling force of our life is from above. People who fear God will believe, repent, and confess Jesus as Lord and obey His Word.  Let us then submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us.  We cannot even begin to be wise unless we fear the Lord. God has made true wisdom always available. Wisdom is calling us but are we listening. Proverbs 2:5 Fear the Lord and find the knowledge of God, for the Lord gives us wisdom.

Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference…Amen
 Thought for the Day: Let our heart be motivated by wisdom of God and not that of man.

Sheena Simon, Carmel  MTC Boston

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