“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom”.
In our yesterday’s reflection, James talked to us regarding leading a blameless life through controlled tongue, today James starts by asking the above question and he gives a response to it. That if anyone says he/she is wise and have understanding, then let him/her show proof of it.
The only way someone can say they have love is by giving love, the only way one can say they have faith is by their actions. All these things must be proved by our good life and by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom.
James explains to us two types of wisdom; one that is from heaven i.e. God’s wisdom and the other one is earthly i.e. worldly wisdom. The worldly wisdom is described in verses 14-16 “but if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambitions in your hearts, do not boast about or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambitions, there you find disorder and every evil practice”.
The fruit of worldly wisdom is envy and selfish ambitions and this is from the devil. The person with worldly wisdom focuses on what they can gain from others more than what they can give or do to others. James says in v16 that because of worldly wisdom motivated by envy and selfish ambitions then, people will always find strive and fights among themselves. “There will be disorder“. Another fruit of natural or worldly wisdom is pride which is referred in James 4:6 to what God opposes. It’s a terrible thing when God reaches to an extent of opposing someone one’s idea opinion or plan because of pride.
The other wisdom is heavenly wisdom; the wisdom that comes from God which James describes as “pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” v17.
God’s wisdom is full of humility; ready to accept the wrong and ask for forgiveness, always ready to bring solutions to people’s issues and problems. It seeks the good of others more than self. It’s what brings peace in hostile circumstance. The wise will always be slow to speak but quick to listen and the response will be worthwhile. Wise people are always submissive not only to God but to others, respecting their thoughts and desires without trying to control them but to team with them. Wise men are considerate always thinking about the affairs of others through care and concern more than their own. They are merciful always willing to go an extra mile for the sake of others without judgment or revenge. They are sincere and worthy of trust, always speaking the truth in love. Finally, wise men are full of good fruit which is the fruit of the holy spirit described in gal 5:22-23 and which is so essential for our walk with the Lord and for our personal relations with others.
According to James 1:5, this is the kind of wisdom that we should desire to have and which we should ask in prayer and our father in heaven is faithful to give to us.
In conclusion, the peace makers who are wise men and women we’ve described above, will sow righteousness in peace, will raise a harvest of righteousness.
Your statement
ReplyDelete‘That if anyone says he/she is wise and have understanding, then let him/her show proof of it.’
Reminds me of the statement Jesus made in Jn 14:11 ‘Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves’, Jesus had works to prove that what he was saying was true. Just like you would know a carpenter because of the stools he has made or a fisherman by the fish he has caught so likewise we should demonstrate our faith in God through our deeds.
In the Old Testament when Elihu was answering Job for trying to justify himself before God, he told him that your wickedness concerns a man like yourself and your righteousness a son of man, (Job 35:8) we can harm others because of our wickedness and we read of murders, theft, and injustice in the newspapers, however we can also bless others because of our righteousness, and Jesus is a good example apart from the miracles he did. He also died for us and there is no greater love than this that a man should lay his life for his friends, Paul tells us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, Isaiah summarizes it all by his knowledge shall the righteous one my servant make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. Is 53:11
F.O