Wise? - James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Wisdom is a tricky thing.

I think we all have different ideas about it.

Sometimes it is easy to get it confused with knowledge.

Sometimes we say "wise in the ways of the world" as a counterpoint to something we see as spiritual.

There is perhaps something of that in James' description here. For James, wise in the ways of the world would include selfish gain or ambition. Knowing how to be tricky and successful. Smart.

But that isn't the only way to use the word wise.

Who is someone you think of as wise? And how do you know?

Are they smart? Savvy? Shrewd? Clever?

Or are they Sage? Judicious? Perceptive? Insightful?

All of those words are synonyms for "wise" and yet, they don't all call to mind the same exact thing, do they?

Perhaps my favorite wise character in literature is Charlotte the spider in Charlotte's Web. Charlotte knows something about gentleness and being peaceable. Her entire life is given in the service of saving another life. Not smart perhaps. Or tricky. 

Who is it then that is wise for you? Does James' definition ring true?

Is wisdom worldly? Or is it spiritual?

Or is it both?

Lord, only you are truly wise. Share your wisdom with me that I might sow righteousness and peace. Amen.