James 3: 13-15 – Wise Guys

Two goofy looking male faces.

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.

Did you know there are two kinds of wisdom? I hadn’t thought about this before. James takes the word “wisdom” and turns it on its head in this passage.

The first kind of wisdom is the kind I always think about when I read Proverbs. Who is “wise and understanding?” If we answer, “I am!”, how do we know? What little voice tells us that we are wise and understanding? How do we know what kind of “wise” we are?

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