LEARNING DAILY

James 3:13, Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

James asks a challenging, almost confrontational, question.  

Wisdom is from the Greek “sophos” which relates to a practical, real-life use of moral reasoning. He is not writing that one’s intellect is not important; his point is more about what one does. I do not believe it is an understatement to write that we live in a time where knowledge is literally at our fingertips. All one has to do is get on their phone or computer and he is able to find more information on any topic than is needed. World events are known about right after they happen and anything anyone says about anything is easily seen. I remember having to go to the library to look in the card catalogue to find information, or I looked in encyclopedias and magazines for information. Not anymore! Knowledge, today, is available to anyone looking for it.

The problem is wisdom seems nonexistent. Look around and see the evidence of what I am writing about. Look at those who have had their dreams destroyed by bad investments, bad decisions, and bad judgment. Look how easily people are deceived by the “stuff” that comes out of people’s mouths, deception and promises are rampant, and people are falling for what is said; the promise of position, power, and prosperity do not come.

There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is accumulating facts. With dedication to the goal(s) set, the determination to work more diligently, and commitment, anyone can accumulate facts. That is not the problem. The problem is not being able to put the facts one learns into real-life situations and the times needed.  I want you to realize that happens in the area of faith as well; be careful to call yourself wise when you have some scriptural training or have spent time learning Bible facts. There are those false teachers who use the Bible to twist the meaning to fit their own particular agenda. Remember Ed Newton’s teaching from Monday when he stated anyone who teaches a gospel that is different from what Jesus taught is “fake news.”

James understood that if one was going to put their faith into action by doing good works, he would need to have wisdom. He pointed out that there was natural wisdom from the world system and the philosophies of man, and there was supernatural wisdom which comes from God. I will deal with each of these in the next two pages of the blog.

There has never been a greater need for God’s wisdom than today. As a Believer, you have a huge advantage over the unbeliever; the unbeliever only has the wisdom of the world at their disposal. Consider Solomon who was about to be crowned the king of Israe1 Kings 3:5, “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." Solomon’s answer came in the following verses. Here is verse 9, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" Solomon’s priorities were in the right order; he did not have to stop and think about what he wanted. No, he knew right away he needed wisdom. Later he would write, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (NKJV)

If God would ask you right now the question He asked Solomon, what would you say? My prayer is you would ask Him to work in you and through you to make you a person with His wisdom.