My husband and I have been seeking for quite some time wisdom about a certain aspect for our lives. But, I am often left wondering if we have received wisdom from God or wisdom that makes sense according to current culture.
What is the difference?
I found an outline in my Women’s Ministry folder that looks at James 3:13-18 for the answer to this question.
Heavenly Wisdom
- It is humble, modest, and helps one understand true position in Christ.
- It is utterly pure, clean, most holy, perfect, and undefiled.
- It loves peace and freedom from contention, disturbance, and war.
- It is considerate, gentle, and courteous.
- It is submissive, open to yielding to reason, and is approachable.
- It is full of mercy and compassion.
- It is full of good fruit and rich in kind deeds.
- It is impartial, free of prejudice, with no breath of favoritism.
- It is sincere, whole-hearted, and straight forward.
- It is free from doubts and wavering.
Earthly Wisdom
- It is superficial – not going deeper than the surface.
- It demonstrates bitter envy and jealousy.
- It demonstrates selfish ambition, desire for power, honor, and fame.
- It denies and defies the truth by its actions.
- It is earth-bound, worldly, not spiritual, godless.
- It is sensual, distinct from the mind, not intellectual or spiritual, and is given to the pleasures of sense.
- It is demonic, of the devil and deceptive.
- It brings disorder, disharmony, rebellion, confusion, and unrest.
- It brings evil practice of every kind.
Reading it this way makes it seem so obvious!
What kind of wisdom are you receiving?
Read more: “Got Wisdom” series