PRAISE AND POWER
Two Kinds of Wisdom
June 14, 2016
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good
conversation [behavior] his works with meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13) God says in His
Word that a wise man shows forth meekness of wisdom. “But if ye have bitter envying and strife
in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above
[not from God], but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (James 3:14, 15) According to God’s Word a
person acting out of bitter envy and strife in his or her heart is not following wisdom from God
but earthy, sensual and devilish wisdom. This sets the two kinds of wisdom. There is wisdom
from God and there is wisdom from the devil.
One definition of wisdom is knowledge applied. A person endued with knowledge is expected to
show meekness of wisdom out of good behavior according to James 3:13. It starts with being
endued with knowledge. “The fear [reverence or respect] of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) The knowledge one may
receive from God is the correct or proper knowledge. “The fear [reverence or respect] of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs
9:10) The wisdom from God would be proper knowledge properly applied. It takes meekness
toward God, reverence and respect for God, to acquire the right kind of knowledge and wisdom.
The wisdom of bitter envy and strife is different from Godly wisdom. “For where envying and
strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:16) Those would not be the behaviors
God would want to promote. “ 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. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James
3:17, 18) What a contrast! Obviously, the wisdom from God is better.
God has some other instruction regarding wisdom found in I Corinthians. “For the preaching of
the cross [the accomplishments of Jesus Christ] is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us
which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the
scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this
world?” (I Corinthians 1:18 – 20) God has made the wisdom of this world foolish by His wisdom.
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.… But unto them which are called, both Jews
and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:21, 24) Those
who choose to believe the preaching regarding Christ are wise. But those worldly ones who are
just too prideful and too wise to accept God’s Word are foolish in not believing. By the right way
of believing regarding Christ we are in Christ Jesus. “But of him [God] are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: …”
(1 Corinthians 1:30) Let’s continue to choose the reverence of God and His wisdom.
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“PRAISE AND POWER” is an independent ministry, continued in honor of Milford and Betty Bowen by
Earl and Nancy Burton. Our prayer is as theirs was that you will be edified as you apply the principles of
God’s Word in a practical way in your life. You may contact us: PO Box 473, Earlysville, VA 22936 or by
email: [email protected] 061416 ENB