James 3:17

MARKS OF TRUE WISDOM

‘But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.’

James 3:17

This text is often misapplied. It is used to promote rather than restrain religious controversy, whereas the whole context of the passage shows that its application is designed to foster the Christian graces.

I. Marks of true wisdom.

(a) Pure. This may be applied to doctrine, practice, and life.

(b) Peaceable. There is no room for the controversial spirit in the heart that is filled with wisdom ‘from above.’

(c) Gentle. There is no truer mark of a real Christian than a quiet and gentle spirit. It was possessed by Him Who is made unto us Wisdom, for when He was reviled He reviled not again. To be like Christ we must be ‘meek and gentle.’

(d) Easy to be intreated. We all know of men and women who in their dealings with their fellow-men are as ‘hard as nails.’ They resist every appeal made to them; they have no compassion.

(e) Full of mercy and good fruits. How can the man filled with Divine wisdom be otherwise? He has obtained mercy, and he seeks therefore to be merciful. The unmerciful servant lacked wisdom, and he met with his reward.

(f) Without partiality. Divine wisdom makes men and women large-hearted. It is because so many of us lack this wisdom that the lines

The ways of men are narrow,

But the gates of heaven are wide

have passed into a proverb of reproach against Christian people. We who believe in the Fatherhood of God must accept the corollary of the Brotherhood of man.

(g) Without hypocrisy. Sincerity is one of the chiefest of Christian virtues. The world cannot tolerate a hypocrite. Let transparent honesty rule our life.

II. Have we this wisdom?—It may be ours; it should be ours, for God has made abundant provision. ‘If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, Who giveth to all men liberally.’ ‘Ask, and ye shall receive,’ and like the Lord Himself you shall increase in wisdom day by day.

Illustration

‘It is a principle of the Gospel that he who gets mercy shows mercy. When a man is full of mercy in this sinning, suffering world, a stream of benevolence will be found flowing in his track all through the wilderness. If the reservoir within his heart be kept constantly charged by union with the upper spring, there need be neither ebbing nor intermission of the current.’