September 25, 2018

Are You Wise?

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. – James 3:13

Are you wise? How do you know? Do you make good choices? Are you sure? There’s a difference about being wise in the world’s eyes and being wise in the eyes of Jesus.

Think about the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus didn’t teach a lot about common sense, did He? The rich are poor. Those who are persecuted are blessed. Those who mourn, are poor in spirit and are meek will all be blessed. Doesn’t sound too much like what the world would consider “wise” teaching, does it?

The world says it’s all about us. It doesn’t matter who we hurt. So what if someone else pays the price for our selfish ambition? Who cares about the cost so long as we get what we want?

Here’s what James says about this earthly wisdom:

But if you harbor 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, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. – James 3:14:16

Ouch. We may convince ourselves that our motives are pure but God sees right through to our heart. The saddest thing is that the more we tell ourselves the lies, the more we believe it. Eventually we convince ourselves that we were right and that is dangerous. Something our pastor noted the other day.

So, what is good wisdom. Well, James talked about that too.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. – James 3:17

Let’s use a few words from my pastor. A wise person has no hypocrisy in him. No partiality. A wise person is willing to yield to what the Spirit says. A wise person is filled with mercy for others. A wise person reveals good “fruit” in his life. A wise person is peaceful.

That sure doesn’t sound like someone who would be respected these days, does it? Where’s the part about success and money and upbeat sermons? Where’s the part about more for me and less for everyone else? Where’s the prosperity talk? I don’t want to do for those who can’t do anything for me. Let them do for themselves. Isn’t that what we’re all supposed to do?

Uh, no. It’s not about us. It’s about Jesus. We as His church must model something different that the world. We must be content. We must be merciful and loving and kind.

Church has become a recreational activity we participate in when we’ve got nothing else to do. It’s an option. Except when we make God an option, we have denied Him. We have denied His Presence in our lives. We have chosen the world over Him.

Wisdom comes to those who ask. But when you ask, you must obey. Are you asking? Are you obeying? You can’t live as part of the world without denying Jesus. You have a choice to make. Will you choose Him?