Wisdom

             Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18)

 

            This passage says everything about wisdom that we might not expect. Wisdom is supposed to be esoteric. We climb up a mountain and talk to a guy who hasn’t climbed down the mountain in at least five decades, but somehow still has the answer to our problems if we can only discern the meaning of his comments. Alternatively, we are the ones sought for wisdom.

            But instead, what this passage suggests is that wisdom is intertwined with our actions and motivations. It makes sense. If wisdom is the understanding of how the universe, personal relationships, or whatever works, then how can it be wisdom if we don’t act on it?  Perhaps better, how can we be said to be wise if we don’t act based on the wisdom?

            James' alternative to wisdom is surprising to me in this passage. One might expect the term “folly” or “foolishness” to show up, but James wrote about jealousy, selfish ambition, and arrogance as if they, and not folly, are the opposite of wisdom. All those words direct a person’s focus to him/herself. Seeing everything in terms of oneself is obviously foolish but also completely natural. That makes it difficult for us to get past it. We grate at the idea that being pure, peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and free of hypocrisy, even if we know they’re good things to be.

            If nothing else, doing those things takes a lot more effort than grasping and saying, “Mine!” It might mean being willing to do without something we must have. But what wisdom is there in wasting energy wanting or pursuing something you shouldn’t have or can’t have? What wisdom is there in chasing something bad for you? In fact, folly is bound up in seeking what isn’t  yours, as noted in Scripture:

Folly is an unruly woman;
    she is simple and knows nothing.
 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,
calling out to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
“Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!” (Proverbs 9:13-17)