WHAT IS WISE?

This era I feel I’m needing wisdom a lot. Been thinking of this one phrase. Before you get to the rest of the signifiers of God’s wisdom in James 3:17, james thought best to start here. What is wisdom from above? Pure. It’s not tainted. Not selfish. Not full of competing worldly agendas, or a thousand arguments that fray any mind. It’s not for personal scheming. It’s not a mere consultation to get to the next level. It doesn’t possess a mood that changes. It’s not capricious. It’s not for those seeking to be wise in their own eyes. It will only stay more hidden from them.

Seeking wisdom from God starts by seeking Him. Only through Him can we discern what is wise. Only through Him can we ever hope to apply what we learn. And the first thing we encounter in God is that He is not like us. He is pure. And that is a good thing. He is pure, so his wisdom naturally flows from that. The rest of the attributes in the verse help bring color to the nature of God’s wisdom to make it recognizable. But of all things, God’s wisdom is first of all pure.

It’s in the core thread of reality since before time began. And God graciously gives it.

So when I’m still in process, i can be at peace because God reveals the steps as needed. His Word will guide & shape the path ahead. And His way goes through the nature of who He is. I can simply do the next right thing in following Him. The wisdom of God assumes a heart is being transformed in living it out. And perhaps that’s its intent. It leads us always back to the fountain in Him where we are meant to flourish.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” - James 3:17