Page 92 - The Prosperous Way _ (APRIL 2024 v3)

THE PROSPEROUS WAY

and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant
seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17-
18; NLT)

This Scripture teaches that heavenly wisdom is first and foremost pure.
That means that heavenly wisdom is not motivated by any hidden
agendas (such as envy or selfishness or self-promotion). Heavenly
wisdom is peace loving, as its objective is always to bring a peaceful
resolution to a situation. Wisdom from God is also gentle, in the sense
of being considerate rather than overly strict or harsh. This kind of
wisdom does not hold to the strict letter of the law but instead follows
the spirit of the law, by seeking what is equitable and fair. Heavenly
wisdom is not stubborn or wilful but is willing to hear the other side and
is open to being persuaded. Finally, heavenly wisdom is merciful, does
not show favouritism, and is heartfelt and sincere. And heavenly
wisdom yields good fruit—a harvest of peace and righteousness.

In James 3:14-16, we see the contrast with earthly wisdom. This is the
kind of cunning wisdom that it is motivated by selfish ambition and
jealousy, which often results in the truth being covered up by boasting
or lying. Unlike heavenly wisdom, the result is discord and disorder. In
fact, James 3:15 calls this kind of wisdom demonic.

We can turn to these Scriptures to guide us when we face a situation
where we need to act with godly wisdom. First, we check our motives:
are they pure or is there a hidden agenda? Will the planned action bring
a peaceful resolution to a situation? Are we willing to hear the other
side? Are we looking for an equitable solution or a harsh and strict one?
Is the contemplated action right or is it unethical? Will it result in a just
outcome between the persons involved? Are we being impartial or
showing favouritism? Are we being merciful? Asking these questions
will keep us on the path of godly wisdom.

WHAT IS UNDERSTANDING?

Understanding has a somewhat different meaning from wisdom, in that
it refers to the ability to properly comprehend a matter. In a general
sense, it means being aware of human nature and having a good grasp
of how life works. It can also mean having intelligence or knowledge
regarding a specific matter, such as the industry or the company in

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