Wisdom …but where from?
For a few years our church sent a team to Romania. We went out to Norman and Linda Patterson who ran “Project Romania,” a mission that worked with the poor and underprivileged in the villages around Laslea. We spent most of our time in a gypsy village called Selaluce building homes and running children’s camps. …There’s one memory that sticks in my mind - that of little children drinking from dirty water. …Drinking water from a dirty source is not only unpleasant, it’s unhealthy. It causes all manner of sickness and stomach disorders. …That memory came to mind when I read the closing verses of James chapter 3. In it he writes about drinking from a dirty source, …not water though - it’s wisdom.
James 3:13-17 NIV [13] Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. [14] But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. [15] Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. [17] But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
In this passage James brings us to the source of two types of wisdom - one heavenly the other earthly. Both are ways in which a life can be reasoned out and lived. However they take us on two very different paths. Drinking from the heavenly source leads to humility, good works and a good life. Drinking from the earthly source leads to disorder and every evil practice. One leads to spiritual health, the other will make us spiritually sick.
The passage helps us to stand back and examine the major influences in our life, the people around us, the voices we listen to, the forces that drive us. It should also help us to ask the questions - “What kind of wisdom am I taking on board? What’s being harboured in my heart?” The heart that holds to bitter envy and selfish ambition will be driven by forces that have a wholly negative impact on their life. The heart that looks up to Jesus will know purity, peace, consideration, submissiveness, mercy, good fruit, impartiality sincerity…
What source are you drinking from? Is it dirty or clean? Is it leading to life or causing you chaos? …If it’s the earthly source, James tells us not to deny it and not to boast about it either, but to do something about it. Stop drinking from that source, shut out those voices. Instead surround yourself with godly people. Proverbs 13:20 says: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Also spend more time drawing from the purity of God’s Word. It has a cleansing and purifying effect on us. Those are heavenly sources that’ll lead to a good life. …Lets pray
Heavenly Father help me to examine the influences on my life. I pray that you’d help me see where I’m harbouring earthly wisdom and stop it. Help me also to seek out sources of heavenly wisdom that will bring your blessing upon my life. …Amen.