A Wise Guy?

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

(James 3:13-17 ESV)

Many of us, in our society today, consider ourselves to be wise. And if we don’t yet consider ourselves to be wise, we’d like to one day. Wisdom is considered by most to be a positive, attractive quality.



Wisdom indicates someone who’s experienced. It indicates someone who is knowledgeable and who possesses good judgment. It indicates someone who’s intelligent and discerning.



However, as we look at the words of James above, we find something rather surprising. Wisdom, according to James, is characterized primarily by meekness. The good conduct of the wise, he says, is demonstrated by meekness.



I say this is surprising because meekness is not perceived as a positive quality in our day and age. In fact, meekness is viewed as a sign of weakness. We understand the meek person to be spineless. We understand him to be nothing more than a doormat before others.



However, we find in Scripture that meekness is, in fact, a positive quality. Jesus tells us, in Matthew 5, that the meek will inherit the earth. This echoes the words of Psalm 37:11, which say: “But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.”



Those who are meek are humble. They are long-suffering. They are teachable. They are submissive.  This is in accord with the words of Jesus, in Matthew 20, who tells us that the one who would be great must be a servant, and that the one who would be first must be a slave of all.



James goes on to say that the wisdom that is from above is peaceable and gentle. It’s open to reason and full of mercy. It’s impartial and sincere.



The quality of meekness is seen most clearly in Jesus, who describes himself to us in Matthew 11:19, as gentle and lowly. This phrase is translated in the KJV as “meek and lowly in heart.” Although he is God, he humbled himself in order to serve us.



It’s in meekness that true wisdom is seen. Good conduct flows from the meekness of wisdom. Let us, then, seek to learn from those who display this quality. And let us ask God to instill within us a wisdom, characterized by meekness, that we might be a blessing to others.