This post is Day 16 in a series of studies about “James”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

James – Day 16

Real Wisdom, the wisdom from God, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day, cold the next, not two faced. You can develop a healthy community that lives right with God.

James 3:14 -16

But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

The Thought

This small book of James could make us depressed if we allowed it to. Don’t allow it! Use these words as a purifying agent and let the Lord show you where and if there are issues to be dealt with. In the business world today there are many who are standing on everyone else’s toes in order to get to the top.

Many educational establishments teach their students how to be the best, how to survive in competitive situations; how to have a “cut-throat” attitude, and how to have the drive to get to the top.

This “wisdom” is not from our Lord, and we must have nothing to do with it. He is the one who humbles the mighty and exalts the humble. Trust Him today with your future.

In the following verses God gives the real way to succeed. Quoted here from The Message translation.

Real Wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two faced.

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoys its results along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.

Action

Pray for any envy or bitterness in you to be revealed and washed away by the Holy Spirit today. Pray for those you know in competitive situations at work to know the peace of the Lord.

Praise God that His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). Praise Him that Heavenly wisdom is available for those who look for it.