divine wisdom

i was praying about a situation early one morning earlier this week, and the Holy Spirit reminded me of this passage so i got up to refer to it:

James 3:13-18 (AMP)

13Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.

14But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.

15This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).

16For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

18And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God's will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

There is a difference between divine wisdom and wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual and even of the devil which results in conflict, selfish ambition, disorder and EVIL.

It was such an assurance to me that when God's kind of wisdom results in concord, agreement and harmony with peace. I learnt that i don't have to, or more accurately, cannot and should not, over-react or be angry, but display the wisdom given by God (see James 1:5-8* which says God gives me wisdom when i ask for it) in meekness (used in NKJV**) or humility (used in NIV***) .

His wisdom is found in His Word, and revealed to us by the Holy Spirit who resides in us. I take comfort in the fact that when i follow His Word and His will, His wisdom is displayed and there is a harvest of righteousness and peace. When i follow my own thinking and want my own way, the consequences (whether in the short or long term) are unpleasant.

Lord, i ask of you wisdom, and i yield my will and ways and opinions to Your will and ways and opinions.

*James 1:5-8 (NKJV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

** James 3:13 (NKJV) Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

*** James 3:13 (NIV) Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.