THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE AS COMPARED WITH THE EARTHLY WISDOM
13 WHO IS WISE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG YOU? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."
James 3:12-17 (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit through James is showing us in the above passage that whoever has bitter envy and is self-seeking in his or her heart is having earthly, sensual and demonic wisdom. Such a person or believer should not boast of having wisdom from above (James 3:14,15). If the person did boast of having wisdom from above, they are lying against the truth (James 3:14). In other words, the wisdom in you is known through the fruits that are found in your life—what you exhibited as character.
Another thing mentioned in the passage is that where envy and self-seeking is seen or found, confusion and every evil thing would be found there (James 3:16).
We could see here that when you allowed a negative trait or attitude which is one of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), you give room to confusion and every other evil thing in your life (James 3:16). In other words, when a demonic trait is allowed in your life, It would attract or beckon to others or open the door to your life for other evil things to come in—like attracts like.
How would one know the wisdom that is from above?
I. First of all, the wisdom from above is pure (James 3:17).
II. It is peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).
Things mentioned here are the attributes of godly wisdom, wisdom from above. Whoever has a godly wisdom, a wisdom from above, would exhibit the traits or attributes mentioned here.
Since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom and power (Isaiah 11:2), we could see fruits of the spirit in the attributes that are listed as the attributes of the godly wisdom (Galatians 5:22,23).
Whoever has the wisdom from above or godly wisdom:
a. Such would be pure in heart (Matthew 5:8). He or she would have a tender heart and would not be living a compromised life—they would not want anything that is contradictory to God's Word.
b. Such a person would be peaceable, a man or woman of peace who one can go along with—who accepts pains or hardships calmly or without complaint.
c. He or she would be gentle and could bear with others—such would be tolerant.
d. Such would be yieldable, someone who is submissive to the authority and not a recalcitrant or unruly or uncooperative (Titus 2:9; 3:1,2; James 3:17).
d. Such would be full of mercy and other good fruits, which are the fruits of the Spirit, would be found in his or her life (Galatians 5:22,23; James 3:17).
e. Another thing is that such a person would be without partiality and hypocrisy (James 3:17). Whoever is partial would definitely be hypocritical!
The points that are mentioned or shared above are things that should be found in the life of a person with godly wisdom and they are mainly the attributes or fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits are the fruits that every believer is expected to grow in his or her life (Galatians 5:22,23).
The truth is; If someone is a believer who is wise and understanding, such would be known through his or her good conduct and their demeanor—who his or her works are being done in the meekness of wisdom (James 3:13).
A so-called believer who lacks good conduct is lacking in godly wisdom. In other words, wisdom from above is exhibited through good conduct and disposition. The demeanor of such in his or her works, in discharging of their duties, would be of meekness and not of arrogance or pride.
This wisdom from above or godly wisdom is gotttten:
a. By asking in prayer (James 1:5).
b. Through the reading and studying of the Word of God, the Bible. The Word of God, principles of the, makes wise (2 Timothy 3:15).
c. Wisdom is also gotten through fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom, thus, your yieldedness and rapport with Him imparted wisdom to you (Isaiah 11:2).
d. Also, through the companionship of the wise. Whoever walks with the wise would be wise: "HE WHO WALKS WITH THE WISE MEN WILL BE WISE, BUT THE COMPANION OF FOOLS WILL BE DESTROYED" (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV).
If I may ask:
• Who are your friends and those you associate or hangout with? The truth is, If you walked with fools, foolishness cannot but runoff on you.
• Are you showing good conduct in the doing of your works, that is, are you doing them in the meekness of wisdom—either in the secular work or the ministry work? (James 3:13)
Since one of the ways in getting godly wisdom—as highlighted above and found in the Scripture—is by asking in prayer; you would do well to ask from God to fill you with His wisdom (James 1:5).
Peace