“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:13-18).
There are only two sources of wisdom – heavenly and earthly. Christians are interested in the heavenly kind – God’s wisdom. The qualities of that wisdom cannot be hidden by those who walk by it, and James tells us of seven characteristics in verse 17.
Walking – living – according to heavenly wisdom will lead us to live a life of purity and holiness.
Those who walk according to godly wisdom will desire and promote peace with others, as much as within them lies. Envy and self-seeking are characteristics of earthly wisdom.
Godly wisdom teaches us to have a gentle spirit, one that forbears when provoked. Rudeness and incivility toward others demonstrates earthly wisdom.
Walking in godly wisdom is characterized by a merciful spirit and compassion toward others, resulting in good fruits – good and kind actions toward others.
The wisdom from above teaches us to be impartial toward others. James gave an example of paying attention to the rich while despising the poor. That’s earthly wisdom.
And God’s wisdom teaches us to be without hypocrisy. Christians don’t pretend to be something they are not; they don’t profess one thing but live another.
But for a moment let us pay some special attention to this one: “willing to yield.” The King James Version reads “easy to be entreated.” It carries the idea of being easily persuaded or compliant. “Easily persuaded” does not mean gullible. It means one is not obstinate, stubborn, and unyielding. If we are walking according to godly wisdom, we are approachable when a brother or sister brings a concern or fault to our attention. We will have the humility to hear a brother or sister without being easily offended. Pride that is characteristic of earthly wisdom stands in the way. If we are easy to be entreated, then we will listen, consider, and be persuaded to change when change is needed. Being easy to be entreated is necessary if we are to be influenced by the word of God, for previously in the letter, James wrote, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21).
These are the characteristics, the qualities, of
heavenly wisdom. They are taught and
exemplified in the Scriptures. If we are
living according to the wisdom of God, then we’ll be living with these
qualities. If we are without one or some
of these, we need to give more effort to walk in the way of heavenly wisdom. -Larry Jones