Have you
noticed that common sense is not so common. It is actually a challenge to find
people who have good old common sense. A lot of smart people are not too wise.
They may be educated but they don’t have wisdom. They may have all kinds of
degrees but they’re a wash out with relationships. It’s not a matter of what you say with your
lips but a matter of what you live with your life. Not a matter of your words
but of your works. Not so much the diplomas on the wall, but your disposition
that really shows how wise you are. Wisdom is applying the knowledge you have
to every day life in building better and stronger relationships. Wisdom is
applying that knowledge to your life in order to make a positive impact on how
you live your life in a proper relationship with others.
Wisdom Is Shown Through Our Life
It has nothing to do with your
intelligence. It has everything to do with your relationships and your
character.
him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from
wisdom." James 3:13
is Divine in nature. One comes from below the other comes from above. If you
are going to live a better life you must live life with the Godly wisdom that’s
from above.
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that
seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Lack Of Godly Wisdom Causes Problems
James 3:14-16 says: "If you harbor bitter envy and selfish
ambition in your heart don’t boast about it and deny the truth. Such `wisdom’
does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, even of the devil.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition there you find disorder and every
evil practice." The KJV say’s confusion, which means disorder and
instability. Lack of wisdom causes all kinds of disorder and problems, and
chaos. Do you have confusion in your home? Do you have chaos at work? Is your
life a mess? If you can’t get it all together you lack wisdom. It causes all
kinds of problems in our lives.
How can I know if I’m wise?
17, lists the characteristics of wise people. "But wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace
loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and
sincere."
Pure means uncorrupted, authentic.
If I’m really genuine, if I’m wise, I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not going
to cheat you, I’m not going to manipulate you, I’m not going to be deceitful.
I’m not going to try to take advantage of you. I’ll be a person of integrity.
Because all relationships are built on trust and respect. If you don’t have
honesty who’s going to trust you? If you don’t have honesty who’s going to
respect you? You have to have integrity in your life.
I won’t make you angry. Wise people
work at maintaining harmony. You ever met someone who is always arguing, always
looking for a fight? I heard about one guy who was so argumentative he would
only eat food that disagreed with him. If I’m smart, if I’m wise in
relationships, I won’t compromise my integrity and I won’t antagonize your
anger.
Proverbs 14:29"A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes."
How many of you have ever done something stupid in anger? Anger causes
mistakes.
"Wisdom is considerate" and
"considerate" means "mindful of the feelings of others".
James says, wise people are considerate; they don’t minimize other people’s
feelings. I don’t have to accept them but I can understand them. James says if
I’m wise in relationships I will not minimize your feelings. I’ll be
considerate.
A wise person can learn from
anybody. He’s not defensive. He’s open to reason. He’s not stubborn. He’s
willing to listen and learn. "Wisdom is submissive". This word is
used only one time in the New Testament. It doesn’t really mean submissive. It
really means reasonable, willing to listen, willing to be open to ideas and
suggestions. The Revised Standard Version says, "It’s open to
reason."
Are you a
reasonable person? Can your kids reason with you? The Bible says if you’re
wise, you’re reasonable. You’re open to suggestions. "Don’t confuse me
with the facts; I’ve made up my mind. When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to
you."
advice.”
good fruit."
Do you jump on people every time they blunder, every time they make a fault and
fumble it? Do you always use everybody in your family as the butt of your joke.
That’s dumb. Wisdom is full of mercy. I won’t emphasize your mistakes. Do you
ever let people go, or do you keep hounding about their past mistakes? Wisdom
is full of mercy and good fruit." Good fruit is kind actions, it’s
something you do. You don’t just show sympathy. You don’t just say, "I
feel for you… You brought it all on yourself." You do something about
it. You take action. It’s a kindness. It’s being a doer of the word.
A mark of a wise person is they don’t
try to hide and disguise who they are. "Wisdom is
impartial and sincere." The King James say’s without hypocrisy. It means
to be honest and sincere. It means to be straightforward, right on.
James says if you’re smart and wise, you’re not phony. You don’t wear masks and
try to be something you’re not. Be yourself, don’t try to be something you are
not just to impress others. Proverbs
28:13 "You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins
become one of those wise people in relationships so that I have that peace that
everybody is talking about? Do I just make a New Year’s Resolution — Today I’m
going to be wise! No. This is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge
comes from education. Wisdom comes from God. To get knowledge you look around.
To get wisdom you look up. Knowledge comes from reason. Wisdom comes from
revelation. Knowledge is something you learn. Wisdom is a gift.
James 1:5 "If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God." Wisdom is a gift from God.. "Ask of God who gives generously." He
loves to give.
Colossians 2:3 NLT "The secret is
Christ Himself. In Him lie hidden all God’s treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Jesus Christ. If you want God’s wisdom get Jesus in your life. You invite Him
into you life and say, "Christ, think Your thoughts through my mind and
say Your words through my mouth. Help people through my hands. Love people with
my heart. And put Your wisdom in my mind." The wisest thing I ever did was
give my life to Jesus Christ. That’s where wisdom comes from. When you get
God’s wisdom in your life, day by day, as you allow Him into your life and
develop your character, you’ll find your relationships getting better and
better.