Evidence And Wisdom

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word. Sometimes is cringeworthy to really think about.  It is real life application.  It’s a choice to make, and instruction to follow - or not.  It requires humility to recognize it, and humility to change.  Thankfully, God’s word is truth, you don’t have to worry about implementing the wrong thing.  His word is flawless – without fault or error.  What He says is completely dependable, it endures throughout every generation.  Have you ever had a Quarterly or Annual Review at work?  An assessment of personal performance?  Here’s one.   James 3:13 - Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his 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, of the devil.  What is this talking about?  Two kinds of wisdom, and the evidence of which kind you operate in.  Who boasts about selfish ambition?  Those who don’t recognize it for what it is.  Some people do things, and conduct themselves in a way they think makes them a man, or an independent woman.  They boast about it, denying the truth, for they falsely think that it indicates success, only to be unaware that it is false wisdom, and a faulty standard.  That’s why they boast about it, reinforcing their habits that bear the wrong fruit. God reveals further, James 3:16 - For where you have bitter envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure (unmixed), then peace-loving (it promotes peace), considerate (unselfish), submissive, (willing to come under, not Lord it over) full of mercy (cause you’ve received it) and good fruit, impartial (no favorites) and sincere (not fake, but truly about them not yourself) Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.  This is truth in practice.  No one is wise without a life that demonstrates it.  Your actions indicate and prove your wisdom, the kind you operate in - God’s Wisdom, or the other kind, which is really foolishness disguised by deception.  Your life reveals if you have wisdom or not, or whose wisdom you have.  Either wisdom from heaven, or wisdom of the earth, unspiritual, of the devil.  Are you wise?  Are you understanding?  Do your deeds show it?  Does your life show it?  Is what you do, done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  If you are expecting others to show humility? Do you show it yourself?   Are you hasty with words?   Or do you make sure you first have the mind of Christ, the counsel of the Holy Spirit and others?  Be humble, so your deeds will come from wisdom, not reaction. Your deeds prove your humility and your wisdom, not just your words.  But your tongue is an indicator.  Your tongue is a fire, don’t just contain it, submit it.   Bitter envying means “sharp tongued,” piercing, ‘heat,’ zeal – it’s a warning sign.  Do not glory in it, and do not think you are innocent.  If you’re full of heat about something, sharp tongued, piercing words, that is a dead giveaway of the other kind of wisdom.  Don’t be pleased with yourself, or deny the truth.  Such wisdom does not come down from heaven.  Back up a little bit.  If your words pierce, (when God says pleasant words promote instruction, and a gentle word can break a bone – Prov 15:1, 25:5), be careful.  If you’re hot - full of zeal, sharp tongued, be careful - you are likely not operating in the wisdom that comes from God.  Be humble, so your deeds will come from wisdom, not reaction.  Is delivery as important as the message?  God’s wisdom includes both.   Is the goal not to offend anybody?  Impossible, but if your words needlessly offend, are you really wanting to help them?  Or justify yourself – and end up scorching them?  Is it really about them and their good, or about you and your desire to be right or honored or respected? Praying that your actions will indicate God’s Wisdom, that you will check yourself before boasting or denying…  that you will notice the indicator of heat!  That your words will sow peace – so you reap a harvest of righteousness.  Praying that the wisdom you walk in will have full evidence of being the wisdom of God.  So God’s message through you can come packaged in the delivery of wisdom, and the sowing of peace, so the harvest will honor God, and position you for greater things. 
 
Love you all,
dad