Seek Wisdom: Wisdom from Above

Have you ever wanted God’s wisdom for a clear answer, but just haven’t received it? Me too!

Actually, we are in a moment in our family when we have been waiting for God’s direction and wisdom. We have sought godly counsel for prayer too.

Sometimes God’s word is clear about direction for our lives, and some things are left to our own choice and desire. Although there is choice, I always try to lean into prayer and ask God for His wisdom regarding direction and choice.

James, writing to the early church and to believers dispersed due to persecution, aims to help these young believers grow in faith toward maturity. We again find James writing to these believers concerning wisdom. At the beginning of James’ letter, in chapter one, he encourages believers to seek God for wisdom. It is a gift that God wants to give to his children; however, it comes with the stipulation that they not waver in faith when asking. God will give His wisdom generously to those who ask and stand in faith for an answer.

In the same letter, James 1 tells us to ask for wisdom, while James 3 helps us discern what wisdom actually looks like. In chapter 3, he differentiates between two types of wisdom. James opens this section by discussing the outcome of a life rooted in God’s wisdom. This person is seen as a moral person, noble and pure of heart, and the fruit of this wisdom is work, enterprise, or anything accomplished through the individual's hands, done in humility.

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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness (James 3:13-18, NIV).

James contrasts this with the individual who operates from worldly wisdom. This person is bitter and full of selfish ambition. In some versions, self-ambition is translated as "strife" or "contentiousness". In the Greek, it connotes seeking to gain followers, like a self-seeking pursuit. This person may seem beautiful or appealing on the outside, but when they speak, they do so only to gain a following. The imagery lends itself to someone running for a political office who puts on a facade to gain votes.

When reading this passage of scripture, I am immediately met with thoughts of many individuals who are brilliant by worldly standards but create this kind of division and dissension. On another note, we have many people who are influencers or famous through their followings on social media. Be Aware! James even goes so far as to say that this wisdom comes from the mouth of demons, and therefore, these people may be appealing, but James warns that they breed worldly wisdom that brings disorder, instability, and confusion.

And today, the voices competing for our trust are not limited to people we know personally. I recently read a statistic, according to Barna Group: “one in three U.S. adults say AI’s spiritual guidance is as trustworthy as a pastor’s—a share that climbs among younger adults, approaching two in five among Gen Z (39%) and nearly half among Millennials (44%).” How scary! These individuals trust a machine ethically over a pastor. This kind of seeking will only cause confusion. AI was built by humans with their own ideologies. If we are seeking wisdom and desire it to bear godly fruit in our lives, then we need to seek truth through a relationship with God and the Word, and to have spiritual mentors whose lives are marked by purity.

James concludes that wisdom from God has causal attributes. This wisdom is pure from any fault, innocent. Unlike worldly wisdom, this wisdom isn’t political, trying to gain followers. With this wisdom comes peace. In John 14:27, Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to leave them peace, but it is a peace that is not worldly, meaning that the peace He gives is not based on circumstances. So it would make sense that wisdom from heaven or from an individual rooted in Christ would radiate the same peace Jesus left for His followers. This supernatural wisdom will be gentle and easy to obey. It will be full of kindness toward the afflicted with a desire to assist them. This wisdom shows no bias and is free of hypocrisy.

James concludes this sentence with a promise. He tells believers that those who sow in peace will reap a harvest in righteousness. This agrarian imagery would not have been missed by this audience. The New Testament church was aware of and understood the concept of sowing and reaping. If seed was not sown, there was no provision for later. Whatever seed was planted in the ground would be the crop harvested in spring. He is encouraging this young church to seek and to sow God’s wisdom into one another. People who sowed peace would later reap righteousness.

So back to the beginning, when I said my family is seeking wisdom and direction over an area. We had a door open to us for a new direction and felt it was the Lord opening it, but then we were advised by others (not necessarily with godly wisdom) that it could be a door that would later close off career advancement. What do we do? Well, we have been praying, seeking God, and still nothing. Perhaps we will fast, but we will hold steady until we hear God’s voice or prompting. Sometimes, seeking God’s wisdom means faithfully waiting, even when He has not yet given an answer.