Gospel Outreach International

What does it actually mean to be wise? Not clever, not confident, not well-read, but truly wise in the way God intends? Most of us have met people who seem to have all the answers and yet leave a trail of division and hurt behind them. And most of us have probably wondered, at some point, whether we ourselves are operating out of the right kind of wisdom or simply our own. This Bible study takes us into James chapter 3, where we are shown two kinds of wisdom laid side by side, and where God spells out, with remarkable clarity, what genuine wisdom looks like when it is lived out. As you open your Bible, come ready to ask yourself an honest question: the wisdom I am walking in day to day, where is it really coming from?

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. James 3:13

• True wisdom, according to James 3, has seven distinct qualities: purity, peaceableness, gentleness, readiness to obey, mercy expressed in good deeds, an undivided and unwavering commitment, and freedom from hypocrisy.
• False or worldly wisdom is characterised by bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance and disorder, and ultimately has its roots in what is earthly and demonic rather than heavenly.
• Teachers and preachers face two particular temptations: the temptation to arrogance, assuming superiority over others, and the temptation to bitterness, which can lead to division within the body of Christ.
• The deeper we go into Scripture, the more we discover there is still to learn. The Holy Spirit continually reveals fresh depths, and a true disciple is always a learner.
• Genuine wisdom leads to right relationships, both with God and with other people. Division and conflict in a congregation are signs that true wisdom is lacking.
• Forgiveness is central to wisdom. Knowing when it is wrong to apply the strict letter of the law, and choosing instead to show grace and mercy, is a mark of the truly wise.
• Peacemakers and peacekeepers are not the same thing. Truth can sometimes be a dividing factor, and genuine peace often requires courage rather than mere conflict avoidance.
• All seven qualities of true wisdom reflect the character of God, are the marks of the Holy Spirit, and are perfectly seen in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• The fruit of righteousness is grown from seed sown in peace, and it is those who actively make peace who produce this fruit in themselves and in others.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

Everything in this study comes back to one person: Jesus. The seven qualities James describes are not just a checklist for better behaviour. They are a portrait of Christ himself, the one in whom all true wisdom is found. When we pursue purity, peace, gentleness, obedience, mercy, steadfastness and honesty, we are not simply trying harder. We are being drawn closer to him, and becoming more like him in the process. That is what wisdom is for. Not to make us impressive, but to make us his.

Bible References

• James 3:13-18
• James 3:13-18
• Proverbs 9:1
• Psalm 139
• Matthew 28
• Colossians 1:1-3