All Christians should seek to make wisdom an attribute of their lives. God will help us to be wise if we seek Him and ask Him (James 1:5). Wisdom is not a vast vocabulary, a degree from a prestigious school, or the ability to quote hundreds of verses. James shows us that wisdom can be seen practically in one’s daily conduct by asking, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). Just as James earlier challenges one’s faith to be evidenced by works (James 2:18), so here the challenge is wisdom evidenced by conduct.

While worldly wisdom puffs one up in pride (1 Cor. 1:20-31), receiving heavenly wisdom requires meekness (James 1:21). The good works that a wise Christian does are not done before men to be seen by them (Matt. 6:1-4), but rather are done in the meekness of wisdom which respects God. The wise man understands his proper position under God and does not seek the glory that belongs to the divine. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7).

In contrast to heavenly wisdom is the description of selfish ambition described in the next two verses: “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic” (James 3:14, 15). We must remember it is the Lord who gives wisdom (Prov. 2:6). Paul asked the puffed-up Corinthians, “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Cor. 4:7). To seek greater glory for oneself is to not be content with the place God has assigned. This follows the path of the angels who sinned and are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness (Jude 6). Selfish ambition is devilish. To be envious of another’s place or success has led to all sorts of sins throughout history. The first murder occurred because Cain despised the fact that his brother’s works were righteous while his own were evil (1 Jn. 3:12). That the chief priests delivered Jesus to be crucified because of envy was so obvious that even Pilate could see it (Mt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10).

 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the LORD.” (Jer. 9:23, 24). Heavenly wisdom produces the greatest quality of life. Consider the fruit of the Spirit and those you have known whose lives prove they have been thoroughly influenced by God’s instruction (Gal. 5:22, 23). In contrast to the strife that comes from people with mixed motives and hidden personal agendas, the wisdom from heaven results in purity of heart and peace among the people of God. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17, 18). Does your conduct show you are wise in the way God has set forth in James 3:13-18?