A Word Of Wisdom: Is That Wise?

Is that wise?

We don’t always know all the consequences of our actions. We are not always fully informed of everything we need to know before we make decisions. The idea is to endeavour to do the best we can with what we have in order to make a decision that is good in and of itself as well as producing outcomes for the best. That’s the idea. It is a good idea as well. Is it clear that this idea underpins the decisions we make? Is it evident that this idea shapes the decisions that are made that affect us?

In exploring the difference between wisdom from above and below, the goal of heavenly wisdom, as James shares, is that the quest for peace that motivates actions leads to outcomes that flourish in what is right in God’s sight. That challenges us to look at things as much as possible from God’s perspective. That challenges us to have our minds informed with God’s word revealing God’s will established in God’s way.

What James goes on to establish is that the reality to his audience was that all too often decisions were driven by the earthly kind of wisdom.

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

James 4:1-4 (NLT)

Friction and tension would come about because of the selfish ambition that is rampant in people who don’t turn to God. The picture painted by James about the condition of people without God is something that is as evident now as it was for James. The response to the situation is turning to God. There are noble efforts made by people for noble outcomes, but unless it is sourced in turning to God it will ultimately be corrupted by us. God really is the only solution, but you don’t have to just take my word for it.

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

James 4:7-10 (NLT)

Whenever we think that we are good enough to be the source of wisdom, whenever we think we can do things on our own without reference to God, that is the only thing that’s required to lead to wisdom from below. Decisions made in pride, however subtle and reasoned, express detachment from the source of the sort of wisdom that produces the harvest of righteousness.

The challenge goes back to the recognition of the world we’re in and the influence it has in shaping our decisions beforehand. That background will ask if the decision we make is wise. They will only offer wisdom that fails dismally.

We have an opportunity to go through the process with the best reference point. A reference point we reach by humility and submission. When taking the next decision we have heavenly counsel to support us with the answer to that question: is that wise?

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden