But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (17-18)
I have written before about the difference between intelligence, learning, and wisdom. Wisdom is something that comes from the Lord and from years of experience in walking with Him and obeying His word. Many have high IQs and advanced academic degrees but lack wisdom in relating to God and others. This is not meant to belittle higher learning but simply to say that wisdom doesn’t necessarily come from a textbook. There is also what some call “worldly wisdom” or “street smarts,” which means you are good at navigating the culture but not necessarily good at pleasing God. James is not referring to social acuity or academic prowess in this text. Instead, he is referring to wisdom from God. This is the kind of wisdom God gives us when we ask for it by faith (See James 1:5)
In Chapter 3, we learn how to recognize this wisdom from above. Interestingly, God’s wisdom is peaceable, gentle, and merciful. Think about that the next time you get into a discussion or disagreement with someone. We often spend so much time trying to win the argument that we end up losing the person in the process. Yet, true wisdom from God leads to greater peace and less strife. Dispensing godly wisdom to people means you actually listen to their side instead of just mentally formulating your next argument while you wait for them to finish. Instead of trying to verbally decimate someone or display your intelligence, wise words are full of mercy and gentleness. Wisdom tells the truth but in a way that leads to peace. It is easy, especially during this holiday season, to get into discussions with family members that lead to arguments. Discussions are healthy and sharing wisdom is godly, but it is just as important to say things the right way as it is to say the right things. When people can sense your gentleness and mercy, they are more likely to care about what you know.
