James chapter 3 verse 17 (NIV)
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
James Chapter 1 verse 5 (NIV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
The need for the right kind of Godly wisdom was obviously something which James felt very strongly about. In the first chapter of his letter he counsel his readers to ask God to give them wisdom if they feel that this is something they need and are lacking. I wonder however what our definition of Godly wisdom would be if we were asked?
In today’s verse from James’ letter we see how he defines it. There are some qualities we may find more difficult to practice. There are two which stick out of this list for me – submissive and impartial. The biblical meaning of “submissive” involves willingly yielding to the authority or will of another with an attitude of humility and respect. It signifies an intentional act of placing oneself under the guidance of God or others, reflecting obedience within the framework of God’s design and justice. Importantly, this concept does not imply inequality or servitude, but rather a harmonious alignment with divine order. Overall, being submissive in a biblical sense carries deep spiritual significance, emphasising humility and cooperation. But sometimes we think we know better and do things the way we think they should be done, refusing to submit to doing things the way God wants them done. We soon find out that this wasn’t a wise move and it gets us often into all kinds of trouble. If we are called under God to mediate in a situation then we really do need God’s wisdom on the matter for it may not be as simple as taking sides. We may need to remain impartial, at least until we know all of the facts and can make an informed decision. It’s only when we take the time to look at the definition of Godly wisdom given by James that we realise why we need to ask God to give us that gift for its not something that easily comes naturally to us – or is that just me?
Dear Lord,
I realise that often when I think I’m acting wisely, it’s not always with the wisdom that comes from You. So I ask, as James counsels, that You grant me Your wisdom and discernment that I could reflect Your ways as an obedient servant. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.