James 3:13-18: a reflection

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. 15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James distinguishes two kinds of wisdom. There is a wisdom, he says, that is earthly, marked by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, and where these are, there is disorder and every vile practice. But there is another wisdom, the wisdom from above, and its marks are very different: it is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. The two wisdoms are known by their fruits.

Notice how James distinguishes true wisdom from its counterfeit. Worldly wisdom, however clever, is driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, and it produces strife and disorder wherever it goes. The wisdom from above is known not by cleverness but by its character: it is pure, peaceable, gentle, merciful, and sincere. You can tell which wisdom is at work, James suggests, not by how clever it sounds, but by what it produces, strife and self-seeking, or peace and gentleness and good fruit.

That gives us a way to test the wisdom we follow and the wisdom we seek. Much that passes for wisdom in the world is really driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, and it breeds conflict; but the wisdom God gives is gentle, peaceable, merciful, and sincere, and it makes peace. Ask which kind of wisdom marks your own life and the counsel you follow. Do not prize the earthly wisdom of self-seeking and cleverness that breeds strife; seek the wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy. Let the wisdom you live by be known by its good fruit, and be one who sows peace, for the wisdom from above bears the fruit of righteousness in those who make peace.

Lord, James distinguishes two kinds of wisdom: an earthly wisdom driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, which breeds disorder, and the wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Give me a way to test the wisdom I follow. Much that passes for wisdom in the world is really driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, and it breeds conflict; but the wisdom you give is gentle, peaceable, merciful, and sincere, and it makes peace. Show me which kind of wisdom marks my own life and the counsel I follow. Keep me from prizing the earthly wisdom of self-seeking and cleverness that breeds strife. Help me seek the wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy. Let the wisdom I live by be known by its good fruit, and make me one who sows peace, that the fruit of righteousness may grow. Give me your wisdom from above.