Word of the Week - godly Wisdom

For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing your desire can compare with her.  Proverbs 8:11

I have been doing a study on godly wisdom by Ken Boa, which is excellent and I highly recommend https://kenboa.org/series/wisdom/.  As I understand and grow in godly Wisdom I see the truth of Proverb 8:11 above, because it is so very valuable to attain godly wisdom, which can be simply defined as “supernatural skill for day to day living”.  Our world/culture seems to be moving further away from pursuing godly wisdom and more towards the ways of this world.  The bible tells us that there are two kinds of Wisdom “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from Wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  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.” James 3 14-16Attributes of godly wisdom (outline from a recent sermon from Pastor Chris Hodges):

• The wise are pure hearted – We must make it one of our highest priorities to keep our hearts pure.  When we see things within our lives that are not good and pure we should ask God to remove it from our hearts and deeply desire to “not be that way”.  Most importantly we should guard our hearts from the being contaminated by the things of this world. We know that “friendship with the world becomes enmity with God” James 4:4  We must be vigilant in choosing to guard our hearts and minds from the things of this world that are not pure and of God.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8
• The wise are peace loving – The spirit of God is a spirit of love, unity, peace and harmony not of disunity.  There is definitely going to be conflict in this world and we will be tested by situations where we are unjustly attacked.  That being said, human anger and strife does not produce good.  This is quite apparent in the current strife of our culture.  All we see is one side pitted against the other in a spirt of anger, strife and disunity.  It only sows seeds of discourse and that is of the enemy not of God.  Our goal as followers of Christ should be to sow seeds of love, peace and unity. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. Romans 12:18
• The wise are considerate – To be considerate is to think of others and how we can love and serve them.  Part of the fruit of God’s spirit that comes from abiding in Christ is the capacity to be others focused.  We can only love others if we are secure in Christ and take time to understand the needs, wants and desires of others.  As Christians we should be others focused because that is the focus of the Lord Jesus.  “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.  For even Christ did not please himself”.  Romans 15:2-3
• The wise willing to yield and submit – We must be willing to admit that we are human and don’t know everything.  We must be willing to admit when we are wrong.  We must be willing to submit to authority.  We must seek to understand and be reasonable (reason able). “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice”.  Proverbs 12:15
• The wise minimize the mistakes of others – It is much more profitable, and life giving, to be full of grace and mercy rather than to prosecute to the full extent even with justification.  If we realize what God has done for us and the amazing grace and mercy He has shown us, we begin to grasp this concept. “While we were still sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8  We will be judged by the same standard in which we judge others; therefore, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgement” James 2:12-13
• The wise are real and authentic – God made each of us in His image for a special and unique purpose.  There is not another you and thus we should celebrate our uniqueness by being true to who God made us to be.  Being authentic allows us to live our lives with integrity, per the Word of the Week from last week.  If we have our true identity in Christ then there should not be anything to hide.  Our goal should be to become the best version of ourselves in and through Christ.  Like my partner Zane says, “be the best me I can be”.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared in advance for us” Ephesians 2:10

So let’s pursue godly Wisdom to be salt and light to a hurting world and reap the amazing benefits because ^“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” James 3:18Have a great week ….-Duane