Who is the Wise Man?
Today’s Verse:
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. ~James 3:13
Wisdom is the ability of making good decisions. It is asking the questions that are necessary to arrive at the decision that is best. Wisdom comes from experience and, sometimes, from making mistakes. It comes from the counsel of people who have gone through life experiences and have insight on what to do and not to do. It is the ability to foresee an outcome and take the appropriate steps to arrive at or avoid that outcome.
We see the priority.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). Wisdom is needed for life. Without it, we will make wrong decisions. We need wisdom in knowing how to be responsible and for choosing the right relationships in life. Wisdom is needed for leadership. In Acts 6:3, one of the criteria for selecting spiritual leaders is wisdom. Pastoral leadership must have wisdom: “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” Wisdom is the Lord! “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom...” (1 Corinthians 1:30a).
We see the privation.
“If any of you lack wisdom….” James wrote to believers who were lacking in wisdom. All of us lack in wisdom. The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. The lack of wisdom demonstrates immaturity, ignorance, impulsiveness, and ineptness. The older we get and the longer we are saved, the more we must come to an awareness of our need for wisdom. We must be honest about our lack of wisdom. When the Lord asked Solomon what he wanted most as a king, his immediate reply was the need for wisdom.
We see the prayer.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” God beckons us to pray for wisdom. Let your prayer be in faith. The idea of faith is that when you ask, expect God to answer you. The context of this request is when we go through a trial. Our prayer for wisdom is asking God to show us how to be a good steward of the trial and what it is that He wants us to learn from it. We must be careful of being doubtful of God when we pray. We must be careful not to waver. Let us be careful of praying for God to give us wisdom but, in our heart, doubting if He will give it. That kind of praying indicates we are double-minded.
We see the provision.
God promises to give us wisdom! He gives to all men with generosity, or liberality. He gives to us without berating us or tearing us down. If anything, God is pleased when we ask Him to send us wisdom and understanding. The gift of wisdom is a good and perfect gift from above (James 1:17). God will not deny wisdom to those who ask in faith and have a genuine desire to be filled with heavenly wisdom.
We see the profitability.
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). In summary, wisdom is profitable for our responsibilities, our relationships, and our resolutions. The wisdom that is from above does not fail because our Lord does not fail. A wise man knows that he is inadequate when it comes to wisdom and prays for the Lord to fill him and make him resourceful. Ask of God, and He will give you wisdom liberally and upbraid you not.
Have a wisdom-enriched God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Luke 10-11