THE LIGHT OF WISDOM (7)

“But the WISDOM that is FROM ABOVE is FIRST PURE, then peaceable, gentle…” – James 3:17a

The LIGHT of WISDOM radiates Purity, Peace, and Poise: “But the WISDOM that is FROM ABOVE is FIRST PURE, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (Jam.3:17). Purity is a primary prerequisite to register for Life’s Principal Course – Wisdom! Much earlier in his letter, James had exhorted: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jam.1:5). Now, he listed the Virtues of Wisdom!

The Light of Wisdom is first, PURE – free from blemish, error or stain! God is pure, along with everything that comes from Him. Purity is first because without it, nothing else matters: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt. 5:8). Pure hearts will see God. Hearts that are chaotic with negative attitudes will be closed up. His Wisdom will expose and expel accumulated grime in the soul; hidden layers of negative emotions such as anger, bitterness, doubt, despair, envy, frustration, malice, and vileness.

Wisdom demands that we let go of SIN, the sinker and destroyer of destinies. Whoever mocks at sin will end up in mockery: “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour (Pro. 14:9). The Word of God makes us wiser than our enemies – Sin, Satan, demons, sicknesses, poverty, and frustration – so we can overcome them. The enemy tries to corrupt us with iniquity so we wouldn’t get wiser than him, and so that he can keep opposing us! Purity opens doors into Instructions of Wisdom that lead to Distinction on the earth.

The Purity of Wisdom distinguished Daniel in Babylon: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank...” (Dan.1:8). God vindicated Daniel’s Passion for Purity with results (Dan.1:20).

The Light of Wisdom is also peaceable, gentle, merciful, impartial, sincere, and productive.

Peaceable or peace-loving: Wise persons are peacemakers, not peacebreakers (vv.14-16). They prefer to talk than fight, listen than yell, find a middle ground or give an inch rather than insist on being right or claiming their own way.

Gentle: considerate, non-combative, not quarrelsome, not easily annoyed. God has been gentle toward us despite our faults (Psa.103:10).

Merciful: full of mercy and good fruits. Mercy transcends feelings. Mercy sees needs and meets them. Mercy surpasses sympathy. We live in an unmerciful world where vengeance is the watchword. The Wisdom of Mercy does to others as God has done to us.

Impartial: without double standards, free from prejudice and favoritism. Wisdom tells and sides with truth all the time – in public and private.

Sincere: without hypocrisy, guile, or pretence . What you see is what you get!

Ultimately, the Light of Wisdom will yield the bountiful “fruit of righteousness” (v.18).