Our Devotionals last Monday, in the book of James, was instructive. We noted in James 3:13-18, that there are two kinds of wisdom: false and real. It was noted that false wisdom includes self-absorption, including:
• Envy, which focuses on wanting what we don’t have but think we deserve
• Selfish ambition, which steps on others to advance self
Our study went on to the opening verses of James 4. There we noted fights and quarrels occurring, again because of envy and coveting, and asking for the wrong things (“stuff”). Self-absorption was the key ingredient for both false wisdom and fights and quarreling.
James offered antidotes to a selfish focus in life. Our group noted that:
• Raising a hand in class while another is speaking is a giveaway that the hand raiser is not listening to the speaker
• Taking time to reflect rather than “blurt” can be a sign of wisdom
• “Tell me more” is a good phrase to use when interacting with one who thinks differently than ourselves
• Humility, a key virtue for James, includes being open minded
• A focus away from Christ leads to a double-minded faith
• God’s wisdom leads to peace
We noted together that our Christ-focus underscores our gaining of true wisdom. This also allows us to move from a self-absorption and selfishness that leads to fights and bickering. Rather, echoing the Sermon on the Mount, “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.” May our eyes be fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, gaining true wisdom, and avoiding the trap of a double-minded faith.
