Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18
We have at our disposal today more documented knowledge than at any time in history. With the digital capabilities of our age, data is amassing at an unbelievable rate. As for what is being recorded, the jury may still be out as to whether it is meaningful or, for the most part, meaningless. Is it necessary to know the speed ketchup flows from a bottle compared to some other condiment? How much trivia can one person actually accumulate before losing their sanity?!
While we certainly have more information, it doesn’t seem to have translated into knowing what to do with what we know! As a matter of fact, it seems to have confused people even more about life and relationships. James would not be surprised by this at all. It was the same in his day.
James begins with a question: Who among you is wise and understanding? The question is not directed at who is the smartest. The words translated here are directed more toward the practical aspects of life than the intellectual. James concern is to focus their attention on how far many are from discovering wisdom in life.
There are many who think they have all the answers. Newspaper and magazine articles share “advice” for living; self-help seminars, books and recordings promote individual strengths over social values; athletes and movie stars weigh in on matters far outside their expertise; and people listen with close attention. There are just multitudes of individuals who regard themselves as endowed with the ability or qualified to share their wisdom and understanding. But what do they really know?
That’s exactly what James says. Where is their authority? Interestingly, James does not find it in their worldly success. His standard is one of character and spirit. For James, wisdom is not merely a matter of the head. Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
The person who is really wise will show that wisdom by the way he lives his life not by the amount of data they can recite. Depending on the kind of lifestyle a person has, you can make an accurate judgment concerning the kind of wisdom they have -- whether it is the wisdom that comes from God or the wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
The end of it all seems to be that the “know-it-all” simply “doesn’t.” Check instead with the one who “shows” more than they “know.”
Scripture to Claim:
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
