Wisdom From Above
What is the wisdom of God? What does God’s wisdom look like in our lives and in this world?
It has been said that, “Wisdom is applied knowledge.” Wisdom is putting God’s word, God’s truth, into practice. There is right knowing, and then there is right doing. Right knowledge without the implementation of truth is folly.
As the saying goes, “Information without application leads to stagnation.”
The Book of James teaches us, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:16-18, ESV).
Jesus taught us to be doers of the word of God, and not hearers only, saying, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28, NLT).
Jesus also spoke of the wisdom of peacemaking through practicing God’s word in the Beatitudes, when he said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NIV).
When we look outside of ourselves in selfless service and love, imitating Jesus and obeying his word, we experience the fruitfulness of the wisdom of God in our lives. When our ambitions become God’s ambitions there is order, morality, peace, gentleness, reason, mercy, and the fruitfulness of God’s righteousness and shalom.
May we experience God’s peace and fruitfulness in our lives and in this world as we live out the wisdom from above by practicing the word of God.
A Collect for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, (Proper 20): “O Lord, you have taught us that without love, all our deeds are worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before you; grant this for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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