Better Together by Yielding to God’s Wisdom

James 3:13-18 

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 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. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Being wise in God’s eyes means that we understand what He is saying and what we are to do as His word and Spirit lead and guide us.  This starts with meekness in a humble wisdom, not one full of self accomplishments, learning, or reasoning.  It is trusting and obeying out of a willing heart changed by Christ.  This truth of His work is not self-seeking or envious, but a direction of the life marked by avoiding bitterness in humbling ourselves (1 Peter 5:6).  Earthly wisdom, if we can even call that wisdom, is flesh-serving and inspired by demonic ends.  We will only be surrounded by evil and without peace in our thoughts and hearts if we rely on that supposed wisdom and philosophy of fallen man.  However, if we seek God’s wisdom, as it truly is wise if it comes from Him, then we find it to be holy and pure, bringing real peace to the inner man, and we then yield where we must and bear good fruit out of the Holy Spirit working in and out of us.  We see partiality with others and hypocrisy in our relationships fade away as we imitate Christ instead of our old man.  When we thus sow seeds of peace with God and man, we find that we bear fruits of righteousness instead of discord and confusion.  It is best to be better together as we yield to God’s Spirit and work in us, corporately as well as personally, instead of attempting to work out our salvation in our own misguided desire and feeble strength (Philippians 2:12-16).