13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:13-18 ESV
https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JAS.3.13-18

What do you like about this passage?

Verse 17 ”But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere”. There is a wisdom that we can obtain that is not just worldly wisdom but wisdom from God. Wisdom is more than just knowledge, wisdom is applied knowledge. This is one reason that we see older people are wise. They have applied knowledge to more areas of their lives.

What is difficult about this passage?

In verse 14 it says “be false to the truth”. We are to be the doer of the word and not just hearer, we can be doing the things of God and get prideful and boastful in ourselves.

What does this passage tell me about God?

God is Gracious! That God has a better way for us, He wants us to get wisdom from Him. This wisdom will be pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. These are attributes of God himself God is giving us part of him that we can be more like His Son. God has so much more for us the just a place to escape hell.

What does the passage tell us about People?

If left to our own we will not apply God’s attributes to our lives and cause much hurt and pain by lending on our own wisdom.

What are you going to do with this passage / your personal revelation?

Before acting or speaking, I need to ask myself, “what is the source of the wisdom I am about to apply?” if it is of God it should have his attributes of pure, peaceable, gentle, open, merciful, impartial, and sincere.