Sunday: The Meekness of Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom
(James 3:13, ESV). The meekness of wisdom?
What might that mean?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Some commentators think that the entire third chapter of James has to do with what qualifies (or disqualifies) people to be teachers. Naturally, the wise and understanding
would seem to be good candidates, but the scope seems to be broader, encompassing the whole congregation. The wisdom James describes here and throughout the epistle is not primarily the intellectual variety so esteemed by the ancient Greeks and many Western countries today. Rather, wisdom is seen in one’s conduct and lifestyle, as indicated by the Greek word for it, anastrophe, translated conduct
(used also in 1 Tim. 4:12, Heb. 13:7, 1 Pet. 1:15, 2:12). Our actions and conduct testify as to how wise we are. Jesus taught the same, saying that
(Matt. 11:19, NKJV).wisdom is justified by her children
Interestingly, the only place in the Old Testament where the phrase translated wise and understanding
is found is in Moses’ admonition to Israel to observe all the laws that God had commanded: Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’
(Deut. 4:6, ESV).
In contrast, the bitter
water spring referred to in James 3:11 produces envy and selfish ambition
(v. 14, NIV) in the church. The latter translates from the Greek word eritheia, which refers to the exclusive pursuit of one’s own interests.
-Ceslas Spicq, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Hendrickson Publishers), vol. 2, p. 70. That’s an attitude that sounds more like Satan in heaven than like what Christians should be on earth. Unless we make a conscious choice to die to self and surrender our will to the Lord, all of us could be in danger of displaying precisely the attitudes here that James warns about.
Dwell more on the phrase the meekness of wisdom.
What are some of the situations in which, right now, some of this wisdom on your part would be very helpful?
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In the real world where we live every day, every one of us has a certain degree of selfishness. We all reach a point when we feel we have to be superior in terms of wisdom and understanding and even in the church this happens. So here the biggest issue is not the wisdom and understanding and who has more. In fact God is not looking for people who have more wisdom and understanding, people who read every verse of the bible and say yes we know all. BUT He is looking for those who will apply all this in the real world where we live day by day. And this has to be done
in God's way. So the biggest issue has always been how we apply or practically live in the real world(especially outside church).
I like the fact that following the instruction of the Lord is deemed "wisdom and understanding". Should make the life of the Adventist pretty much easy to lead! Indeed the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. No strange formula, no extra enlightenment required. Just a "thus says the Lord".
God is the author of everything including the wisdom. He gave us the commandments to follow. Psalm 40:8 "I delight to do thy will, O my God: thy law is within my hear. We human being we must be thirst for doing his will for us to have the required wisdom. We can study up to PhD level but without the fear of the Lord, its impossible to have the wisdom being talked about. Instead will acquire earthly knowledge that is limited in all spheres of life. Let us search the scripture in humbleness and humility for actual wisdom to be in our heart .
I have been reading through Scripture to understand what is meant by the meekness of wisdom. What I discovered was that God wants us to have both and I think Paul says it best.
2Ti 2:23-26 But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they give birth to strifes. (24) But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but to be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient, (25) in meekness instructing those who oppose, if perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, (26) and that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one.
I think we need to look some words up and see if we really know what they mean. Lets take a look at Meekness I'm looking it up in the Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary
Meek: Patient and Mild; not inclined to anger or resentment
tamely submissive; easily imposed on to submissive; spineless; spiritless, gentle or kind
Meekness: the state or quality of being meek
Read James 3
There are two kinds of wisdom. One is a worldly wisdom. The other is a spiritual wisdom. How can we tell the difference between them?
James explains where there is bitter envy, self-seeking, boasting, and lying this is wisdom of the world, which is earthly, sensual, and demonic. Spiritual wisdom comes from God is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, with no partiality or hypocrisy.
Picture the meekness of wisdom as we consider how Jesus behaved during his arrest and crucification. He was pure and sinless. He was peaceful when arrested. He was gentle when He healed the soldier’s ear cut off by his overly enthusiast disciple. He willingly yielded Himself to cruel men to be killed. He was full of mercy as He hung nailed to the cross and asked the Father, “Forgive them they know not what they do.” Jesus played no favorites when he told the thief on the cross next to Him, “Today you will be in paradise.” Jesus was not a hypocrite as He said He would lay down his life and take it up again and He did!
True wisdom allows us to be meek, as Jesus’ example points out. He knew who He was. He knew where He came from and where He would return. He knew His power and that of His Father. He knew He could do anything He wanted to do, yet He choose to do the One thing to save all who believe!
Unless we understand who we are in Christ, it is difficult to be humble. Only seeing the reality of our hopelessness of our own strength, and the power of Christ can we humble ourselves.
How is your wisdom?
Check it against James’ definition. Are there signs of bitter envy or self-seeking embedded in your logic? If so watch out. You are operating from a worldly view. Are you able to show good conduct through works done in the meekness of wisdom? If so you are on your way to walking worthy of your calling as a child of God. https://thinkonitdevotions.wordpress.com/tag/power/
The fear of the LORD is the begining of wisdom,no other formula;
Today's lesson makes me think of Moses who in his own wisdom tried to free the Hebrews by killing the Egyptians. It took him 40 years of labor behind the sheep to learn the real wisdom and understanding that comes from above an
Today's lesson makes me think of Moses who in his own wisdom tried to free the Hebrews by killing the Egyptians. It took him 40 years of labor behind the sheep to learn the real wisdom and understanding that comes from above.
It is very important that we spend time reading the bible and in prayer for understanding of the word then our hearts and minds will reflect the character of christ through our actions.
The meekness of wisdom is a definite characteristic of those who accept the Three Angels’ Messages. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). The first Angel calls for this fear of God (Revelation 14:6, 7) and the keeping of all His commandments. Such fear necessarily requires meekness, a humble and complete submission to the Creator and Redeemer.
The honor of a New Earth is reserved for the meek (Matthew 5:5; Proverbs 15:33), for these will accept their position as God sees fit and gladly honor the authority of their God. Unlike Lucifer the redeemed do not see themselves ascending because they deserve better, nor do they campaign or insist on their own way, but are content to serve with joyfulness. They are wise enough to yield to divine wisdom, even when they cannot explain it. They understand wisdom comes from above, not within themselves (James 3:17).
The wise man said wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7).
When God blesses you with a talent and you are in a church environment that for selfish reasons overlooks your abilities leaving you with little opprutuities to serve in ways you know the church needs, is it unchristlike to feel disappointed and even resentful of the attitudes of others especially when you know your motives are pure?
Greetings Tricieg; I can appreciate your comment as I have been in the same situation. It is only natural to have feelings of disappointment and resentment and it does take time to heal. I lost my position in a church that I had enjoyed and at the time it hurt me deeply. I found however that new opportunities have come to me, often outside of the box. One thing that I have learned out of this experience is to become less dependent on "serving the church". God has provided me with opportunities to serve him in a wider sense by expanding my vision of where and how I can serve him. That does not mean that I love the church less, but I have learned what it means when the Bible says "Go into the *whole world* ...". Serving in the church can be a small horizon, and sometimes God in his wisdom calls us to look beyond, to the rest of the world. I hope that you too come out of this experience with an expanded vision of service.
Hi Maurice, great response. This is so very true. Sometime God may allow these people to be agents of our repositioning for greater use. Never thought of it that way. Thank you
Sometimes it is the simple minded individuals that God can use mightily for His Kingdom. Why? Because they are ready and eager to launch out to do His business. There are no intellectual hangups, just ordinary people who want to do extraordinary work for the Master. May we too be as zealous to do His work.
To me Christian wisdom, is being able to say the right thing at the right time, and otherwise to keep my mouth shut!
I like what Paul had to say about it in 1cor1:18-31.its good to stay humble and learn I read that Christ said if we didn't have a child like spirt we would not be able to enter into the kingdom at least that's what I though I read also Matthew 5: 3-12 speaks to wisdom and blessings
Sure selfishness is part of everyone`s life and if we are not careful even us as Christians we will be found wanting. Self is our greatest enemy.
A person will be considered wise if he/she fears the Lord. Proverbs 1:7kjv. One who fears the Lord will think, speak and act in a manner that will glorify God. Proverbs 1:5kjv. His fruit will be out of the fear of Lord rather than self display. His/her product will be our of love and mercy without any form of pretense.
The Full Portrait of Biblical Meekness
Now let's stand back and see if we can see the portrait whole. Meekness begins when we put our trust in God. Then, because we trust him, we commit our way to him. We roll onto him our anxieties, or frustrations, our plans, our relationships, our jobs, our health. And then we wait patiently for the Lord. We trust his timing and his power and his grace to work things out in the best way for his glory and for our good.
The result of trusting God and the rolling of our anxieties onto God and waiting patiently for God is that we don't give way to quick and fretful anger. But instead, like Moses we give place to wrath and hand our cause over to God and let him vindicate us if he chooses. And then, as James says, in this quiet confidence we are slow to speak and quick to listen. We become reasonable and open to correction. Meekness loves to learn. And it counts the blows of a friend as precious. And when it must say a critical word to a person caught in sin or error, it speaks from the deep conviction of its own fallibility and its own susceptibility to sin and its utter dependence on the grace of God.
Meekness begins with God and ends with God. And therefore whenever we see a person like that, we give God the glory and the aim of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is fulfilled.
Piper, John. "Blessed Are the Meek." Sermons:The Beatitudes. The Desiring God Foundation. 9 Feb 1986. 18 Nov 2014
I had an uncle, my dad's brother. He was a meek and humble man. He went through hardships in his younger days. He was not as bright as his siblings and his mother (my grandmother) did not esteem him as she did my dad and some of her other children. While my dad went to school and did well, my uncle dropped out of school and started working early. He had a small business that did not run too well. My dad bailed him out financially many times and the whole family considered him somewhat of a loser.
But he had a gentle heart and a love and acceptance of all his children. I never heard him speak a harsh word to them or anyone. In his middle-age he was handed a business that one of the relatives retired from, and he worked hard at it and provided for his family. He had 4 daughters. In India, those days daughters were a liability. You needed to save so much money to marry a daughter off respectably. Everyone pitied him, that on top of all the lack, he was saddled with 4 girls. But he seemed to have no worries. He enjoyed them each day.
I was a little girl, but I loved being around him. He bore no ill-will towards anyone. And I could sense that, although I could not understand why I liked him so much. Now he is no more. He did not go to church much, as he had to work Sundays to keep the business going. He prayed aloud sometimes, very rarely, during family prayers.
Today his children are doing so well. They all married simple people and have joy in their lives.
So I always wonder, so many people seek God, but struggle with pride. My uncle seemed to be effortlessly humble. How does that happen?