THE EVIDENCE OF TRUE WISDOM
“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 3:17, 18
What a great contrast there is between the wisdom of this world and the wisdom that is from above. These verses give us THE EVIDENCE OF TRUE WISDOM. God’s wisdom is “pure.” The wisdom of God and the will of God will always be on the side of purity and modesty; whereas, the wisdom of the world is sensual and carnal. God will never guide us in the way of worldliness and sin, but in the paths of righteousness. The wisdom that is from above is “peaceable,” meaning that it will work for reconciliation and restoration. The false wisdom, however, is characterized by strife. Where there is strife and contention, we should recognize that this is not the evidence of God’s wisdom. His wisdom is “gentle.” True wisdom is not harsh, demanding, or demeaning. It is not unkind. The wisdom from God is “easy to be entreated.” God is approachable, and those who are walking in His counsel will be willing to listen. His wisdom is “full of mercy and good fruits.” God’s wisdom wants to find a way to forgive and restore. His wisdom is filled with hope and encouragement. The wisdom of God is “without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” God will give us the truth without flattery, and we never have to wonder if He is being sincere or genuine. The wisdom from above produces “righteousness” and “peace,” whereas the fruit of false wisdom is confusion.
God is the source of wisdom. We need His wisdom, both for our personal lives, and for sharing it with others. We must be able to recognize His wisdom and distinguish it from the wisdom of the world. God’s wisdom can be detected by the truth it contains, the character it embodies, and the fruit it produces. Most of us have accepted counsel or advice that turned out to be ungodly wisdom. The place to get godly counsel is from godly people and God’s Word. Many of the people we are acquainted with in our world know little about God’s truth concerning the home, the church, or making right decisions. When we need sound advice, these verses can serve as a guide to us. “Who is a wise man?”(13)