Winning Wisdom

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But 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. (James 3:13-18)

James explained to the church that there are two kinds of wisdom. One is earthly, sensual, and devilish. The Greek word for sensual is psuchikos, meaning of the soul. The other kind is from above—heavenly wisdom—God’s wisdom.The difference between them is always revealed through a person’s words and actions. Earthly wisdom is loud, defensive, and argumentative. You’ve probably started fights or gotten into trouble with your words before; we all have. Strife almost always begins with words. Arguments don’t start with fists—they start with the mouth. James wrote that strife opens the door to confusion and every evil work, which should make believers cautious about how quickly they speak. Heavenly wisdom, on the other hand, is peaceable and productive. However, peaceful words do not mean passive words—they mean Spirit-led words. A believer who controls their mouth can calm situations instead of escalating them. You become your own prophet when you speak words that are God’s. You prophesy is your future through your words. Speak life, and you will harvest life. Speak strife, and you will harvest confusion.

Practical Application

As you speak, be mindful and ask yourself whether your words sow peace or discord. Choose to sow life. Decide to let the Holy Spirit control your mouth.

James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:12