Day 26
James 3:13 NIV
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
James 3:13 – Message
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.
Personal Paraphrase
True wisdom will be noticed. It will show up in every area of your life. How you live. The things you say and do. Your willingness to let humility direct your life. Real wisdom will produce life.
All of us want to be counted with the wise, but being a person of wisdom requires something of us. The choices I make in life reveal whether I am walking in wisdom or not. My actions in difficult moments speak of whether wisdom is leading my life. Understanding that humility comes before honour is only appropriated in the life of the wise. What the world calls wise and what God calls wise are two different things. Yet, the Word says that if I lack it, I can ask and God will give it to me. Does that mean he will just drop wisdom into my mind? I personally do not think in most cases that is what it is. I believe often He will put me in a place where I can make choices that lead to wisdom (life) or death, but the choice is mine. What I do with what He lays before me will educate my life in wisdom.
How can I apply this to my life? Maybe for starters I can learn godly ways to humble myself. I can choose to live well and think about the cost of my choices.
Comments(4)
Sue says:
January 30, 2014 at 1:53 pmMy paraphrase:
Wisdom, like faith, is evident by the obedience and humility that should be the natural outpouring of wisdom.
Application:
It’s quite simple, we will be noticed. We will be noticed by spectators in this world and the heavenly realm. Noticed and judged as being either wise or a fool. The judgements will differ from one world to the next … what seems wise to God will undoubtedly seem foolish to man. But it is the heavenly world that will last and will matter. That is what needs to determine my reality and how I lead my life.
I’ve been guilty of doing a few things in this life that must have left the angelic beings shaking their heads (nearly knocking their halos off) saying, “What was she thinking???” Relax, nothing horrific like robbing a bank or committing some other felony. But things that would make no sense unless I was looking for short term gratification with no thought of how it would hurt the One who gave His life for me.
I want my life to be marked by what counts in God’s assessment. There is an incredible wealth of wisdom in His Word. It just requires His guidance and His Holy Spirit to uncover it. Then it is up to me to turn supernatural wisdom into a natural element of my life. It is up to me to be willing to do the eternally wise thing … even when it is just me and God with no earthly audience. Or maybe especially when it is just me and God.
Father, help me to crave Your will, Your wisdom above all. In the difficult areas of life let my eyes see only You and desire only Your smile and approval.
Susan Craig says:
January 30, 2014 at 4:56 pmThe Lord gives wisdom-out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. I am struck by the co-existance of wisdom and humility in our reading today. I have never noticed them coupled together like that before. The world seeks knowledge and knowledge puffs us up-makes one proud of one’s own accomplishments. It divides people into categories-stupid,smart,genius etc Using knowledge in an understanding way with the light that God brings into the equation,is wisdom. There is no wisdom apart from God. The Bible talks about being wise in our own eyes and how that is a dangerous place to be.
Humility and wisdom are not naturally present together in humans. Humility means recognizing where wisdom comes from and gives credit to God for bestowing it. I think of Mother Theresa who ministered humbly in the streets of Calcutta for years before the world even noticed what she was doing. She was a true picture of humility. When she speaks,the words that come out of her mouth are wise. Jesus was the perfect example of what it means to be wise and humble at the same time. Many years ago, I recognized that I was not as wise as I wanted to be (mostly because I kept doing stupid things) so I asked God to grant me wisdom. Little did I know that my path in life would become much harder after that!! I was thinking that if I was wiser, my life would be easier because I might stop doing stupid things over and over again until I learned. 🙂 Made sense to me!! 🙂 But little did I know that God had a different approach to my obtaining what I was seeking than what I had anticipated!! God has been working on removing pride in my life(ie humbling me) so that I can be filled with His wisdom and what a long painful process that has been(and continues to be). Like looking in the mirror and seeing my true self for the first time and being very humbled by what I saw-recognizing that I was going to need alot of divine intervention if that goal was ever going to be accomplished.
Basically ,what God has been teaching me is that if I want His wisdom, I need to learn to be a servant.(notice the word learn in that statement.) Isn’t that what Jesus said and isn’t that how He led by example? Being a servant-not reaching for the top of the ladder whether it is for money,fame etc. The key to obtaining wisdom is in humbling ourselves under the Hand of God so that He may exalt us in due time-ie in His timing. Not reaching for the accolades of the world, but giving and giving and giving more and more and more of ourselves away so that God gets the glory for any good that comes out of our lives-God gets the Glory-not man and definitely not me!! This is what wisdom is-knowing that any good and perfect gift comes from the Father. The fact that He chooses to display His goodness/character in humble,broken,cracked earthen vessels is mind boggling!! He has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He has chosen the weak to display His strength and to accomplish His purposes.
What I continue to be getting from these studies is this-we are to make ourselves available everyday as vessels for God to use in whatever way He sees fit to use us, listen to Him and act on what He wants us to do – under His direction and with His strength- giving Him the Glory and praise-all the while knowing this- that we didn’t accomplish a thing-He did !!!
Jim Holmes says:
January 31, 2014 at 12:38 amWe read in 1 Cor 1:30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
From this passage we read that Jesus is our Wisdom…we in Him and He in us. And this is so that no flesh will glory in His Presence. I like what Susan said above…that humility and wisdom is a one package deal in Christ Jesus. Well…her thoughts lend to this picture…especially if we’ve been crucified and raised with Him. He is our wisdom along with righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Fear (trembling reverence and awe of God) is the beginning of wisdom…and a description, I would say, of humility.
Having said the above, I would now take a look at the scripture for today, from James 3:13…” Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”
There is One that fits this description…the One called Jesus. He came from above…and verse 17, 18 describes Him…”…the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
Remember it is Jesus that made a way into the Holy of Holies for us. He made peace between us and God…having broken down the wall that separated us …Jesus, the Prince of Peace. He is the Word made flesh…the word is pure, and is a lamp showing the Way. Jesus…was full of mercy and grace…the Vine, and we the branches…called to bare much fruit…we abiding in the Vine. What then, shall our conversation be?
Pat McRae says:
January 31, 2014 at 12:52 amI love the Message Bible’s version of this verse. My paraphrase: Hey Pat do you want people to think you are wise? Do you want a reputation for being wise? Then this is what you need to do, you need to remember the Golden Rule and treat others as you want to be treated; you need to make wise choices by choosing light over darkness and you need to humble yourself so pride can not rule. You really need to walk the talk!
How can I use this verse in my daily life? I believe wisdom, true wisdom, only comes from God and that whispered prayer in the moment of crisis “Father” or “Lord help” will bring in the wisdom of heaven. So often people have asked me how I knew how to do something. It has only been recently that I realized I knew because God whispered it into my ear. Before I would look at them like, “doesn’t everyone do this?” A few weeks ago someone said I knew from my training but this didn’t sit well with me in my spirit. God was quick to say “NOT!” It was then that I fully understood my wisdom comes from Him. His wisdom is so different from how the world thinks that people notice it. This can be a big problem! Pride comes a courting real quick!!
So I think like the Message Bible says we need to live well, live wisely and live humbly. Sounds so easy but it can really be a challenge at times.
Lord I don’t only want to talk a good talk I want to walk a good talk with humility, always giving You the glory. Thank You for reminding me this week that my actions, deeds, words and ways all have a message to those around me. May Your wisdom give me opportunity to show others the Good News Message. May I have opportunity to bring glory to Your Name and Your Kingdom. Lord let my actions, deeds, words and ways show Your love, grace and mercy so others will know for sure You are a God of Love, a God of Wisdom, a God of Mercy and a God of Grace.