Skip to main content

IBS 6 - James 3:13-17

James 3:13-17
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from 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. 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.”

Wisdom is such a wanted thing. People go out and study for years upon years to gain wisdom. It’s so desirable. But they never really get it. They just become knowledgable. The have earthly wisdom. There is such a want for wisdom, but it’s so hard for people of the flesh to grab a hold of it. Like the verse says, wisdom of the world is unspiritual and demonic. Has selfish ambition and envy. There is disorder and evil practice. People think that they need to cheat and lie and that’ll show that they have wisdom. If they get away with it, they think they were smart. 
I’ve always wanted wisdom. But I’ve always looked at it as not really God given. I’ve always known that, but I didn’t act upon that. I’m selfish and envious. I think so much about myself and my needs that I forget about others needs. I’m jealous and critical. I’m earthly. But I long for heavenly wisdom. 
Wisdom from heaven is peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and sincere. That wisdom is honest. People have such trouble gaining that wisdom, because being considerate, submissive, merciful, and sincere is a hard thing to want. That is not desirable. 
Solomon was a man wanting God. He glorified Him with all he did. His heart was pure. God saw his heart and asked him for anything. Solomon responded with wanting wisdom. Who would’ve thought of saying that? Before I read that, I would’ve never thought of asking for that. I want the wisdom Solomon had. Even before the wisdom, who he was was a man chasing after God. I want to always chase after God. I want to be considerate, submissive, merciful, and sincere. 
Application: Gaining wisdom is a growth process. I want wisdom. I need to grow, to be stretched. Today, I will work on gaining wisdom, and I’ll start with putting others needs before my own. Serving others better; like cleaning up after them, letting them shower first, etc. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

BS 34 - John 15:15

John 15:15 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  Jesus is powerful and mighty. God’s son. And He calls us His friends. Jesus desires us to be friends with Him. He loves us so much, and He wants us to love Him back. It sucks when you love someone who doesn’t love you back. The fact that our God, King of Kings, the one who created everything wants a relationship with us is very humbling. And we all know that relationships take work.  When Jesus calls us to be His friends, He didn’t mean that we are friends that don’t have to try. To be in any sort of relationship, you have to be there, be present, and willing to listen and talk. It’s so easy to forget that. When I was growing up I would talk to God, but it was the type of prayers that you’re taught in Sunday School. It was never heart felt, and I just rambled on ...

IBS 56 - Revelations 3:19-20

Revelation 3:19-20 “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.” I don’t like being disciplined. I don’t like getting in trouble so I try my hardest to not do wrong. To stay away from authoritative figures. The Lord is an authoritative figure, but He’s also Father. He loves me to literal death. He’s not someone I should try to stay away from. And because He loves me, he rebukes and disciplines me. A good parent doesn’t let their kid get away with being disobedient. They discipline the kid because they love them and want them to grow up and behave, be a good adult one day. That’s how God is. He rebukes me because He wants me to live correctly, to behave, and understand.  I shouldn’t be afraid of that. Because it shows me how much God cares for me. How much He wants me to be closer to Him. Being rebuked an...

IBS 44 - Philippians 3:11

Philippians 3:11 “And so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” That is so powerful. Achieving resurrection from death. Jesus raised Himself from the dead. That’s insane. When people say they don’t care to follow Christ or they don’t believe He’s got power, they’re wrong. First of all, there are so many proofs of God’s amazing power. But here, He raised Himself from death. That’s power. I believe that. But I’m really good at diminishing the power He has. I forget the intensity of it, putting it in a little box and then going on about my day. The fact that God created this universe, breathed life into my nostrils, and could take my life at any second should just always be a constant reminder of how powerful He is. For some reason, though, I just don’t think about it. I fully believe the power He has, I just make it seem not as big of a deal then it is. And it’s a pretty big deal. God is someone I always want to follow after, someone I always want to obey.  ...