Unconventional Wisdom

07.19.12

James 3.17 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. NASB

Wisdom is a recurring theme in the letter James wrote to “…the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad…”. If James understood anything, he understood this: without wisdom the followers of Christ are doomed. So, it isn’t surprising that in chapter 3 of his letter that he mentions our need for wisdom and makes a comparison between what is heavenly wisdom and what is earthly wisdom.

The wisdom from above (as James describes it) is not conventional wisdom. The wisdom that is from heaven is wisdom that fights against conventional wisdom. Conventional means: accepted; “a rule, method, or practice established by usage; custom”. Customary is another way of saying conventional. People usually do what is customary, but not necessarily what is right. And what is customary is accepted (or acceptable) but not necessarily what is right. James implies that the wisdom that is from heaven is always right but not necessarily accepted. But above all else we need the wisdom from heaven to make it through this life and to be accepted there.

The reason James writes about wisdom is we need what is from heaven to make it to heaven; we’ll never get there with the wisdom from earth. In order to understand and interpret the Book of Heaven is by the wisdom of heaven; it’ll never happen by the conventions of earth. And James, like the rest of us understood things like influence, peer-pressure and what is: a rule, method, or practice established by usage; custom. James knew we all need something more than just what everybody else does. The wisdom that is from heaven makes demands and asks for a price that few are willing to pay. But to forsake its demands and refusing to pay its price is disaster.

So, I’m forced to live by its rules!? Well, no, but to refuse is to suffer the consequences of such refusal. No one has to live by heaven’s wisdom but all have to accept the results of their choice. The rules may not be accepted by everyone, but the consequences are inevitable for all.

And the bottom line is we all need wisdom but not just any old wisdom: we need heaven’s wisdom. You can’t force a horse to drink but one that dies of thirst is of no good to anyone. Heaven never forces us to drink but bids us accept the water it offers which quenches our thirst forever. And the wisdom of heaven helps us to understand what water is worth drinking.

Friends, I am sorry for all the metaphors, but we need the wisdom from heaven to be accepted into heaven where we can live by the customs of heaven where our King does everything that is: pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, fruitful, unwavering, and without hypocrisy. In order to have this as an inheritance we must seek, accept and live by His unconventional wisdom. Sounds good to me; how ‘bout you?