James 3:13-18 More Wisdom

James 3:13-18
"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

It would seem that there are two kinds of wisdom, Godly and worldly. It is actually easy to tell them apart, based on the behavior of the one who holds the wisdom.

Worldly wisdom looks like this - bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, and arrogance. You know people like this. They are smart and they know it, and they let everyone else know it. They hate to see others succeed because, after all, they are smarter. They are always looking out for number one. They have drive to be the best and they will run right over you to get there, and thats ok with them because it's just "survival of the fittest." To them it's a dog eat dog world and they are the pitbull. This type of wisdom in described as earthly, natural, demonic leading to disorder and evil.

Godly wisdom looks like this - pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, and without hypocrisy. It leads to mercy and good things. People who have Godly wisdom are the people who use there wisdom to help others. They are always humble about there accomplishments. These people don't mind losing the race if they can finish and help some one else finish as well.

So why the difference? It is actually simple. Worldly wisdom has no checks and balances. You don't have anyone to thank for it, because you were just born with it, or you studied real hard to get it. And if you possess it or even helped get it you can do whatever you want with it. Godly wisdom is a gift. You owe the gift giver for it, you owe God thanks. A good portion of this is based on how you get wisdom from God. Two verses tell us how this works.

James 1:5 "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. "

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."

Godly wisdom is a gift of God that you have to ask for. In addition, when you ask you must be a person who fears God. If your wisdom was given to you as a gift, by someone who is still wiser and more powerful then you, then you should be careful to use it the way it was intended.

God keeps account of what you do with the gifts he gives you. Make sure you use them for good behavior and good deeds.