17 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. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today's passage gave me a new, sober view on what godly wisdom is. To this day, I saw wisdom as a rare and powerful asset to those who possess it. I realized that viewing wisdom as an asset is more like viewing it as the means to gaining something rather letting it be the end in it of itself. A wise person gains respect, has the ability to gain more profit, has the ability to win arguments, overcome opponents/ enemies, even make better friends/"connections". It's true that wisdom can be a great personal tool for greater gains in life but in this way, it is used to only serve the SELF. I guess this is the worldly wisdom that serves one's own selfish ambition. Furthermore, I can see how this kind of wisdom produces envy. Seeing other people gain what you desire, how can it not? What a viscous spiral unto death this worldly wisdom creates! Would envy not only spur one's selfish ambition even more? And what a craft of selfish gain it can create!
In contrast, the spiritual wisdom James describes is more of the characteristics of a person rather than an one's ability to gain much from the world. At best, I thought spiritual wisdom would help me better serve God- which is true but still, this view is grounded on how wisdom can raise my level of performance.
I realized that spiritual wisdom is not dependent on my abilities or the lack thereof but it is that which keeps me dependent on God to be "pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.". Without God, I can be none of these things.
This brings me back to James1:5&6. In it James wrote that if anyone lacks wisdom, she should ask God who is generous and that it will be given. I feel challenged to not only let go of worldly wisdom and pursue wisdom that comes from heaven, but also to overcome doubt. I trust that this too is a work of God.
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2 comments:
Wow...Thanks Lynn for sharing your thoughts!
All I can say is that I definitely don't have this kind of wisdom in me, but I want it. I wonder how amazing it would be to be bless with such a wonderful gift.
What scares me the most is after reading this is how easily we mix up the two kinds of wisdom in thinking it is the same because we simply believe all knowledge and wisdom comes from God, but that's not true at all. Heavenly wisdom comes from God as a by-product of living a righteous life for God while the worldly wisdom is a fruit of the Spirit that God blesses us with.
Thanks lynn for an excellent reflection!
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