Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21); Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conversation that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13)
Wisdom is to have knowledge and know how to make the right decisions based on the knowledge we have. Many people know many things, but they don't know how to make the right decisions. Earlier in chapter three we studied about controlling our tongue. Having this ability is a sign of true wisdom and understanding: My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding. (Psalm 49:3); The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. (Psalm 111:10); To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom,... The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:2-3, 7)
The book of James concludes with us being able to discern whether we're in the company of people who cause confusion or peace, man's wisdom or God's wisdom. God stated earlier Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. (James 3:10) Now He goes on to say: But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:14-16) This "wordly wisdom" only brings confusion, because it breaks the basic commandments of God: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet ... anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:16-17); He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace. (Proverbs 11:12); By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10)
Contrary to the world's wisdom, God's wisdom bring peace: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:17-18) The best example we have of this truth is King Solomon, the son of King David. Solomon wrote the book of wisdom, Proverbs, and he also wrote the Songs of Solomon an Ecclesiastes. When his father, David, was king, he was always having to fight, starting with Goliath before he became king (I Samuel 17), then with Saul the current king (I Samuel 19 - II Samuel 1), and throughout his reign against the enemies of Isreal (II Samuel 2 - 24).
But when his son, Solomon became king, On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” (II Chronicles 1:7-12)
Throughout Solomons over 40 years as king of Isreal, not once was there a war. God blessed Solomon with wealth beyond anything anyone had prior to him or since him. (I King 4) Even the enemies of Isreal were a blessing to them because of how wise Solomon was: Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. (I King 4:30, 34)
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions... Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of almug wood and precious stones from Ophirn (I King 10:1, 6-7, 10-11; I King 10); How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.(Proverbs 16:16); But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
The moral of this study on wisdom is this: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness” [Job 5:13]; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” [Psalm 94:11] Therefore let no one boast in men. (I Corinthians 3:18-21); The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. (Proverbs 15:2); But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. (Ecclesiastes 7:12); The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below. (Proverbs 15:24) AMEN!
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