How can we cultivate godly wisdom instead of "demonic" wisdom in our lives? Two Competing Wisdoms James 3:15–17 draws a clear line: “Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. … But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.” Recognizing the Marks of Demonic Wisdom • Origin: “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” (v. 15) • Motivations: envy, selfish ambition (v. 14) • Outcomes: “disorder and every evil practice” (v. 16) Portrait of Genuine Godly Wisdom James 3:17 lists eight qualities: 1. Pure – morally uncontaminated 2. Peaceable – loves harmony, not strife 3. Gentle – considerate, not harsh 4. Accommodating – willing to yield when truth is not compromised 5. Full of mercy – quick to forgive and help 6. Good fruit – produces tangible righteousness 7. Impartial – no favoritism 8. Sincere – without hypocrisy Pursuing the Source of True Wisdom • Proverbs 2:6: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” • 1 Corinthians 2:12–13: the Spirit reveals what God freely gives. • James 1:5: ask God, who “gives generously… without finding fault.” Daily Practices That Nurture Godly Wisdom • Saturate your mind with Scripture – Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” – Consistent reading, memorization, and meditation guard against worldly patterns of thought. • Submit decisions to the Lord – Proverbs 3:5–6: trust the Lord, lean not on your own understanding. – Before acting, pause and align motives with His character. • Walk in the Spirit – Galatians 5:16–23 contrasts fleshly works with Spirit‐produced fruit; the latter mirrors James 3:17. – Confess known sin quickly so nothing quenches the Spirit’s guidance. • Cultivate humility and meekness – James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – Recognize every insight as a gift, not a personal achievement. • Choose edifying influences – Psalm 1 warns against counsel of the wicked; seek fellowship with believers who model heavenly wisdom. – Media, conversations, and reading matter—filter them through Philippians 4:8. • Practice peace and mercy – Matthew 5:9, 7 link peacemaking and mercy to blessedness. – Regularly look for tangible ways to reconcile and serve; wisdom grows through obedience. • Persevere through trials – James 1:2–4: testing produces maturity. – Trials expose counterfeit wisdom and drive deeper reliance on God. Evaluating Progress Instead of measuring by human acclaim, look for the hallmarks James lists: increasing purity, peace, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, fruitful deeds, impartiality, and sincerity. Where these qualities are rising, godly wisdom is taking root; where envy, rivalry, and confusion creep in, it signals a drift toward the earthly and demonic. Invite the Lord daily to purge the latter and perfect the former, confident that His Word is true and His wisdom complete. |
    |