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James 3:13-16

¹³If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! ¹⁴But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. ¹⁵For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. ¹⁶For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.

Reflect

Who would you say is the wisest man in America today? The “Oracle of Omaha”, Warren Buffet? If you read any of the weekend papers, you would have read paragraph and paragraph of wisdom delivered to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders by the Oracle himself. People travel from all over just to hear Warren speak. The whole weekend is almost like a circus.

There is a difference between human wisdom and Godly wisdom. If human wisdom takes on kind of a celebrity status, Godly wisdom is characterized by humility. James tells us that Godly wisdom and understanding are to be demonstrated or manifested in life. This is the proof of true wisdom. In effect James says, “Show your wisdom by your works.”

Respond

Where does bitter jealousy and selfish ambition come from?

How can we guard ourselves from being arrogant about doing good?

What can you do to show your wisdom?

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