What Kind of Wisdom?

Scripture — James 3:13-14 (NIV)

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.

Devotion

In yesterday’s reflection, I suggested that wisdom is the art of becoming fully human. Developing our full humanity is essential not only for human flourishing but for the flourishing of the world around us. As the current climate crisis reminds us, human beings have been entrusted with the care of this planet. When human beings act foolishly, we imperil not only ourselves but others around us, even the earth that is our common home.

Kaibab National Forest Fire (2020)

Today’s text provides insight into the wisdom that helps us become fully human. It comes from one of the early Christian writings called the Letter of James. Traditionally, this letter is attributed to the Apostle James, the brother of Jesus. If that’s so, we hear from someone who has known Jesus firsthand for over a lifetime. According to noted New Testament scholar N.T. Wright, “James echoes Jesus’ teaching at various points, particularly some elements of the Sermon on the Mount, and functions as the New Testament’s rough equivalent of the book of Proverbs: short pithy sayings which confront the hearer with a striking new way of life, urging a genuine ‘wisdom’ … which will enable the believer to see to the heart of reality and so live accordingly” (The New Testament for Everyone, 3rd Edition, p. 446).

At the heart of James’ letter is a description of genuine wisdom. James argues that this kind of wisdom is not just a set of philosophical or theological ideas but also a way of life. Authentic wisdom is demonstrated by a “good life.” And that good life is characterized fundamentally by a “humility that comes from wisdom.” Jesus would have concurred. As he once said, “Wisdom is proved right by all her children” (Luke 7:35 NIV).

The first major concern of genuine wisdom, provoking James’ reflection on the subject, is how we conduct our speech. In our “say anything” culture, that’s especially timely. Words easily multiply in our high-bandwidth, digital world, and their effects can be magnified with dramatic, even tragic consequences. James’ metaphor of our speech being like the spark that sets a forest ablaze (James 3:5) is even more prophetic for our generation than for the first century.

What we say matters. Our words not only communicate information, but they help shape reality, for better and for worse. Part of being made in the image of God is that human beings, too, can create with their words. That’s why misuse of our speech is such a big deal. It distorts reality. To use a slightly different metaphor from the biblical creation story, misuse of our speech creates chaos – it “de-creates.” Instead of contributing to human and creational flourishing, it undermines the intent of God’s good creation.

A second major concern of genuine wisdom is the attitude of the heart. In particular, we need to cultivate the essential virtue of humility. The word James uses for humility can also be translated as gentleness. A surprising aspect of genuine wisdom is its hospitality and respect towards those who are not wise. Instead of being arrogant toward others, genuine wisdom requires us to engage with others with humility and gentleness. As the Apostle Peter counseled those in the first century who knew Jesus and had wisdom to share with others, “but do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:16 NIV). Or, as the Apostle Paul would say memorably to the early church: “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV). Both knew that genuine wisdom is an expression not only of truth but of love.

We live in a polarized age where great debates exist between opposing visions of right and wrong, what is for the common good and what is not. As Tim Keller and John Inazu have argued in their book Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference, we need to find common ground on which to have conversations about the common good without going to war with one another. I believe that common ground is found in the wisdom James is describing. And that will require us to pay attention to our mouths and to our hearts.

Wisdom requires us to love the enemies who live next door. To help us do that, James gives us a list of qualities that describe genuine wisdom in action: “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness” (James 3:17-18 NIV). That’s a tough list for those of us who believe we are fighting for a righteous cause against those who are its enemies.

But perhaps that’s part of the problem. We are fighting instead of being “peacemakers.” To be clear, making peace doesn’t mean giving in to injustice. But how we make peace and that we make peace with our enemies are both at the core of the gospel. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10 NIV). And that is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV).

Becoming fully human means learning to become peacemakers. In the biblical sense, peace is not just a cessation of warfare but a state of mutual flourishing – the way things are intended to be. In a fallen world, there are always forces that seek, in Jesus’ words, “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10 NIV). The challenge is how we respond in wisdom to those forces. That’s a complex and lifelong journey in the company of others who seek to be wise. However, a summary of the journey can be found in the Apostle Paul’s counsel to the early church in Rome: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NIV).

May we be leaders who embody that kind of wisdom today.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Taming the Tongue (James 3:1–12).

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