Wisdom From Above // Wisdom to Transform Your Life, Part 5

A Different Perspective Official Podcast

As much as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, it seems that the same is true of wisdom. What’s wise from where I sit, may not appear wise from where you sit. So … what does wisdom, real wisdom, actually look like? How do you know it, when you see it?

Most of my life, I’ve believed that wisdom comes with age. And to some extent that’s true.

Normally someone who’s been around the block a few times, will have made enough mistakes, and seen enough things to be able to impart some real wisdom.

But just because you’re a bit older, doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily any wiser. Sometimes a person’s blind spots, you know their weaknesses, their failures, stop them from, I guess laying hold of real wisdom.

And sometimes, something that holds itself out to be real wisdom, is tainted by self-interest or other motives that may not be in your best interests.

Let me ask you, is it wise for a woman to have an abortion or not? Well, that depends – at least out there in the marketplace of ideas – on where you’re coming from; on your perspective; on your interests.

So how do you know what real wisdom looks like? How can you tell real wisdom from false wisdom, when you see it? Being able to discern that, being able to tell the difference between these two types of wisdom, as things turn out, is incredibly important.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. (James 3:13)

So it seems that, according to God at least – probably not such a bad place to go for wisdom when you think about it – the first marque of wisdom is a good life full of works born out of gentleness.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not naturally a gentle person. I’m more your get things done kind of person. So a huge part of my journey has been to learn gentleness. Now, gentleness doesn’t mean weakness. It doesn’t mean being airy-fairy and indecisive. It doesn’t mean being ill-disciplined.

But what it does mean is getting things done in love. What it does mean is that as much as getting things done is important, people, these people who annoy us and who frustrate us … who, to be honest drive us crazy sometimes … these people who are made in God’s image and loved by Him every bit as much as you are loved by Him … yes, those, people matter more than getting things done.

So when someone holds themselves out to be wise, ask yourself What does their life tell me? Is it a life full of good works done with gentleness? Because that will tell you the nature of their wisdom – real, or fake.

And, come on, let’s look in the mirror too. Let’s take a look at our own lives. What’s the rest of the world seeing in how we live out our lives? Good works born out of gentleness … or, not.

Because let me tell you, false wisdom is ugly. Really, really ugly.

Some people pretend to be wise, but then, when you scratch below the surface, you find that they’re anything but. What makes this so dangerous is that often those same people are … so confident; often they’re incredibly successful and so we fall for that.

Those sorts of people lead many astray into ways of thinking, into ways of behaving, into ways of living, that end up ruining your life. That’s why you and I need to be so incredibly discerning when it comes to deciding who we are going to allow, to influence our lives.

It won’t come as a surprise that some people are wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. You’ll find them at work, sadly sometimes at home and yes, you’ll find them in your church too. And here’s what their brand of wisdom looks like:

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. (James 3:14-16)

Envy and selfish ambition – those two things go hand in hand. Some people are only in it for what they can get out of it for themselves. And sometimes, they’re in the most unexpected of places. I remember having something to do with the head of a large, well-known, global ministry who was far more interested in his reputation and self-promotion than he was in seeing people’s lives changed by the love of Jesus.

When others in his organisation succeeded, instead of celebrating and praising God, he became envious. It poisoned his heart, it damaged the ministry and it ended his career.

Sure there are people out there who are flashy, successful, articulate, capable of leading a crowd. But the questions to ask ourselves is: Why are they doing it? What is the motivation of their heart?

Because let me tell you, their words, their actions, their facial expressions and body language, their decisions will ultimately betray what’s going on in their hearts. They can’t help it. So be wise yourself. Take the time to watch and listen, before being seduced by what is, ultimately, worldly, self-interest that holds itself out to be 'wisdom'.

You will know a tree by its fruit, right? And while we’re at it, what does your fruit say about your heart? What motivates you? If it’s selfish ambition, if you find yourself becoming envious of other people who succeed, then it’s time to look for a different sort of wisdom.

In our world. We’re taught that success is the most important thing. But envy and selfish ambition have nothing whatsoever to do with wisdom.

So, let me ask you, what does real wisdom look like? If you ran into some powerful, godly wisdom, how would you recognise it.

People who roll over the top of others, who succeed at the expense of those around them, well, no, that’s not wisdom is it?

People who are in it for themselves, full of selfish ambition, people who get jealous whenever anyone around them succeeds … no that’s not wisdom either, no matter how successful those people might be.

I want to share with you today, the best, the most powerful, the most reliable definition of wisdom that I have ever come across:

… the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. (James 3:17-18)

Real wisdom comes from above; from God. It’s pure, completely untainted by partiality, self-interest or envy. Purity is fantastic isn’t it. It king of rings out – simple, beautiful, unmistakable. It’s just the sort of wisdom you know is from God because it’s peaceable.

You and I are called to be peacemakers. To navigate in love through conflict and strife. The most powerful and influential leaders I know are peaceable and gentle. Gentleness is such an underrated quality these days.

I wonder what opportunities lie ahead for you, today, to be gentle with people? Hmm? Great wisdom is willing to yield. When someone else has a better idea, when someone else is heading in a direction that you know in your heart of hearts to be right – real wisdom, godly wisdom, is willing to yield.

Full of mercy for others – because all those annoying people out there are going to make mistakes. They’re going to rub you the wrong way. And when they’re behaving badly, mercy forgives. After all, mercy is only mercy, if it’s undeserved.

Godly wisdom is full of good fruit, without a single trace of partiality and hypocrisy. Real wisdom yields a harvest of peace.

Wow! Just stop and take those two verses – James 3:17-18 – and imagine how your world would change, if you lived your life like that. Because that’s the very sort of wisdom that God wants for you. That’s the very sort of wisdom that He has ready and waiting for you.

Why is it that we think that selfishness and partiality is the way to get ahead? Why is it that we imagine that we always have to put our best foot forward, so that everyone will think well of us?

Let me ask you, do you think well of those sorts of people?

There is a different sort of wisdom waiting for you. Live that wisdom and may your life yield a harvest of righteousness and peace.