James 3:13-18

How do we know if we are listening to the right people? If we are getting our “wisdom” from the right place?

There are two types of wisdom listed here: worldly wisdom and godly wisdom.

WORLDLY WISDOM
• bitter jealousy(v 14)
• selfish ambition (v 14)
• earthly (v 15)
• unspiritual (v 15)
• demonic (v 15)
• disorder (v 16)
• vile practices (v 16)

GODLY WISDOM
• good conduct (v 13)
• pure (v 17)
• peaceable (v 17)
• gentle (v 17)
• open to reason (v 17)
• full of mercy (v 17)
• good fruit (v 17)
• impartial (v 17)
• sincere (v 17)
• righteousness (v 18)
• peace (v 18)

Now, that’s a whole lot of words but this is what stood out to me.

⭐️ Worldly wisdom leads to disorder (v 16).

Is the person/people/media source that I’m listening to fueling and feeding bitterness, jealousy, selfishness? If so – I’m heading down a path that isn’t spiritual and spirals into disorder.

⭐️ Godly wisdom leads to peace (v 18).

Is the person/people/source that I’m listening to fueling and feeding purity, gentleness, reasonableness, and mercy? If so – I’m heading down a path that leads to righteousness and peace.

It’s not always easy in the moment. Sometimes, we want to wallow in a little bitterness. We embrace jealousy and hold it right to our chest.

Wisdom looks beyond the moment and asks, “Where do I want to end up and is the current state of my heart going to take me there?”

Disorder or peace? It’s a daily choice.