Real Wisdom & Cheap Imitations, III

SCRIPTURE: But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18 NIV

THOUGHT: What a study in contrasts: Bitter envy, selfish ambition, boasting, denying the truth, earthly, unspiritual, demonic, harvest of disorder and evil (see yesterday’s devo) OR pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, sincere and harvest of righteousness.

We really need a few minutes to dwell with the distinctions of the wisdom from heaven and wisdom that’s not — the cheap imitations. Simply because they’re so similar in number, I put the lists from James side-by-side to see if he might be trying to say something in their order:

Bitter Envy vs. Pure
Selfish Ambition vs. Peace-Loving
Boasting vs. Considerate
Denying the Truth vs. Submissive
Earthly vs. Full of Mercy & Good Fruit
Unspiritual vs. Impartial
Demonic vs. Sincere
Harvest of Disorder and Evil vs. Harvest of Righteousness

I’m pretty sure “that’ll preach” as we used to say in seminary. But it’s all too much for a simple devotional in the morning, even with a strong cup of coffee. Suffice it to say that the two types are nothing alike, except both go deep into the heart, to the motivations and thoughts and intents. They go so deep because that’s really where faith lives. That’s where the great exchange takes place – our will for God’s. The bowing of the knee. The humility. The holy fear of a holy trinity. Or, of course, not.

Part of the beauty in it all as I read the lists and begin to feel overwhelmed, is that, like any fruit of the Spirit, we don’t grow all this on our own. We aren’t asked to become neurotic or perfectionistic in our pursuit of character, we’re asked to become honest and humble in our pursuit of God. Then the motivations begin to flip as the good work he started goes on to completion.

PRAYER: Oh God, we welcome your work deep inside, where motivations and thoughts and intents grow. Put your finger on whatever is disordered or evil, and give us a vision for and a love of peace and wisdom from heaven.