"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
James 3:16-17
Yesterday:
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
The world’s wisdom only leads to strife, confusion, and every evil work.
“But the wisdom that is from above.”
God’s wisdom gives us many marvelous qualities,
“Is first pure.” “Then peaceable.” “Gentle….”
Today:
Godly wisdom qualities:
“And easy to be entreated.”
This quality has to do with being approachable. No doubt, you have met people in the past who you felt like you could never talk to because they were unapproachable. This is the opposite of that. This individual is easy to talk to and is compliant in the sense that he/she is easily persuaded to do what is right. This person is not harsh toward his neighbor’s faults[1] (see JFB).
“Full of mercy and good fruits.”
This person understands his neighbor’s weaknesses, and he is merciful. And where evil people are into “every evil work” (James 3:16), this person is doing right and has the works to back it up.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Romans 15:14).
“Without partiality.”
This individual has “no respect of persons,” in the sense that he treats everyone without regard to personal bias or prejudice. He is fair and kind towards all.[2]
“I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality” (1 Timothy 5:21).
“And without hypocrisy.”
This man or woman is no play actor. He/she is not pretending to be something they are not. They are concerned with their “inner man” in their personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. With them, “what you see is what you get.” They are real, not plastic, the genuine item.
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
There is no substitute for God’s wisdom in our lives. Let’s ask Him for it each day, and as we need it throughout the day (James 1:5).
Believers, be wise.
[1] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] See James 2:1, 2:4, and 2:9.