James 3:13-18

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” vs. 17

There are plenty of smart people in our world and tons of folks claim to have high IQ’s, but real wisdom seems to be in short supply. And even though some claim that AI is the way of the future, skeptics abound. It’s a great way to access information quickly, but discernment, one of the qualities of true wisdom, has so far been lacking. James offers an alternative. Wisdom, he says, doesn’t come from books or a Google search engine, it comes with a divine purity, and is notable for being peaceful and gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy and good fruits. He believed that where wisdom was present in a community, there would be no partiality or hypocrisy; it would be like living in the peaceable kingdom, the one promised by Jesus. Some have actually been blessed to have lived in such a community, a congregation that has somehow managed to avoid the kind of strife and divisiveness that lies in wait for unsuspecting believers. Sadly, as the overall political climate, with its rancor and discord, has spiraled almost out of control in recent years, such faith communities have had a much more difficult time maintaining the bond of unity, and real wisdom has become a rare commodity. 

Thought for the Day: Where do I experience wisdom from above?