James has a lot to say about wisdom. We know from other places in Scripture that God looks at those who reject His plan of salvation as “foolish,” and those who accept it as “wise.” We also know that even after coming to Christ Jesus for salvation we are going to need a lot more wisdom to handle life in this world as models of Christ Jesus our LORD.
In his opening chapter James reminds us we can go to God and ask for more wisdom, and that God will not only grant it, but He will also grant it without criticizing us. We just need to remember to ask!
In chapter 3 James talks about two differing types of wisdom. He first describes the type of wisdom we do not want and tells us it comes from three different sources. “But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.” [vs 14-16 HCSB]
The sources of this unwanted “wisdom” are the world, the flesh, and the devil. “Wisdom” from those sources produces envy, bitter ambition, pride, lies, disorder, and every kind of evil.
But James does not just leave us there wondering about where to find good “wisdom.” He tells us. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.” [vs 17 HCSB]
God provides a “wisdom from above,” His wisdom given us through the indwelling Spirit of Truth. When we have that “wisdom,” it produces peace, purity, gentleness, mercy, obedience, and other good fruits. There is no partiality nor hypocrisy contained therein.
We can know the kind of “wisdom” we have in our lives by what it is producing in our lives.
