James 3:17-18

If you want to know true wisdom, you have to stop talking. Listen. Think. Don’t just accept the loudest voices or the popular opinion of the day. James gives us eight things to consider when seeking wisdom.

1. Is it pure? I know purity is a laughable concept these days. But that’s not wise. Is what you are considering without a hidden agenda? Can you find the absence of evil, either morally or with intention to do harm? Wisdom from above – true wisdom, is pure.
2. Is it peaceable? Sometimes I look at the faces of those spouting “wisdom” and I see anything but peace. I don’t hear peace, but violence and retribution. We see the result in looting, destruction, bodily harm toward those who challenge this so-called wisdom. We’ve even heard government officials encourage rioting and chaos. Wisdom from above – true wisdom, is peaceable.
3. Is it gentle? I was watching a You Tube video by a woman speaking on the issue of abortion, and when life begins. She was giving a medical description of what happens when egg meets sperm. Her voice was matter of fact, gentle, even loving, without judgment. Just the facts, Ma’am. Suddenly about a dozen people began shouting over her, interrupting her speech and trying to drown out the sound of her voice. When security came to usher them out, the dissenters began pushing, shoving, hitting and kicking those trying to keep order. Wisdom from above – true wisdom, is gentle.
4. Is it open to reason? I can’t type those words without shaking my head. Do you need examples of the unreasonableness in our society today? I ask you, is the wisdom proclaimed by our media, government, academia, the progressive church reasonable? You know it’s not. And the deeper problem is, they aren’t interested in hearing the truth. Reason is not a thing for them. Wisdom from above – true wisdom, is open to reason.
5. Is it merciful? I hear the people claiming to be tolerant, being the most intolerant of anyone who has a different opinion than them. If you disagree, you are cancelled, sometimes violently. If you have something they want, no matter how hard you worked to get it, they feel entitled to simply take it, ransack a store, break into your home, steal your identity. There is no mercy in entitlement. They feel they are owed what you have and will demand it even if you are hurt in the process. No mercy. Oh, they can show mercy all day to those in their own camp. But they will punish without mercy anyone who questions them. Wisdom from above – true wisdom, is merciful.
6. Is it full of good fruits? Are the results of modern wisdom unifying or divisive? The world’s agenda is to divide. Do you think we are happier as a nation, more effective as the Church the more we accept the wisdom of the world? Are families stronger, people generally happier today? Wisdom from above – true wisdom, produces good fruits.
7. Is it impartial? If you don’t think our justice system leans to the left, you aren’t paying attention and I honestly question your wisdom. If you don’t think there are rights for some and not for others, you are wrong to think that. Right is right, wrong is wrong, fair is fair, and should look the same for everyone. Wisdom from above – true wisdom, is impartial.
8. Is it sincere? That’s a hard one because people can sound sincere, and be intentionally deceptive. Sincerity is something that might take some time to discern. Look past what is said and pay attention to what is done. If words and actions don’t agree, there is no sincerity. Wisdom from above – true wisdom, is sincere.

I like James’ list here. As I reread what I’ve written I realize I’ve made it more political than I intended. Yes, there is a false wisdom in that arena. But we need to guard against it in our personal lives, in our Bible reading, in our Sunday School classrooms and Bible studies, in our relationships. James’ list applies to all of it. I think we would all benefit from taking a minute to examine what we are hearing and seeing around us in the day to day, in light of James’ list.

I doubt any of us want to be fools. But fools we are if we attach ourselves to anything other than wisdom from above. Look at verse 18. Here’s what can happen if we are using that godly wisdom:

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Who doesn’t want peace? Only those described in verses 14-16:

But if you have bitter jealousy in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

So, the question I ask in the title is,” Is wisdom a thing any more?” It would seem not. But it needs to be. And it’s up to you and me to accept the wisdom from above for ourselves, to know it, listen to it, live it. If we don’t who will?