“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior, his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” James 3:13
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior, his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” James 3:13
When Brian Frost used this passage in our recent series on Love, our Life Group camped out on this verse for a while. It seems to say that wisdom isn’t just something we ask for or gain but is something we do. So I went looking through the Word to see if there was some basis for this theory.
Deuteronomy 4:6 “So keep and do them (statutes and judgments), for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”
Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.”
Proverbs 4:11 “I have directed you in the way of wisdom.” The Hebrew word used for way here means actions and behaviors.
What I like about this is the cyclical nature of it. By God’s grace, we start by knowing Him and learning His ways. We begin to obey and learn by experience His ways are so good. This leads us to know Him better and continue to obey and thereby grow in His wisdom. As His wisdom dives deep into our hearts and lives, it becomes a way of life that not only benefits us but also points others to Him. Isn’t that good?!
One last parting word to encourage us to seek after wisdom by being obedient to His ways:
“Honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; know that wisdom is thus for your soul. If you find it, then there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 24: 13b-14