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. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.- James 3:13-18 (NIV)
One of the things that struck me was what constituted the fake "wisdom" described by James. There is a type of wisdom-a way of winning in this world-that is rooted in wanting what others have and wanting that they don't have it if we don't and the inner drive to move ahead of others. James says "do not boast about it or deny the truth."
Something I have learned: winning is a bitter victory. When the desire to win is an extension of envy and the desire to be seen as first and "right" then the harvest is disorder. As Jon Guerra says in his song Citizens, "Power has several prizes. Handcuffs can come in all sizes. Love has a million disguises but winning is simply not one"
Today, I pray for the wisdom that comes from heaven and its related consequences: peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and fruit, impartial and sincere. My actions may not always lead to everyone being happy, but the overall trend of my actions, if I were to graph them, should tend this way-toward the kingdom of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment