This Day - Tuesday

[winslake]

James 3 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 17But 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. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

humility - noun - Lack of vanity or self-importance: humbleness, lowliness, meekness, modesty. See attitude/good attitude/bad attitude/neutral attitude, big/small/amount, self-love/modesty.

wis·domn. 1. The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight. 2. Common sense; good judgment: “It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things” (Henry David Thoreau).

Isn't it interesting that humility comes from wisdom?

In other words The ability to discern or judge what is true, right or lasting; common sense; good judgement will lead to a lack of vanity or self-importance...

Boy, have we got this turned around in America right now! We spend most of our time trying to enhance our vanity and sense of self-importance, not head the opposite way.

As a therapist, helping folks to increase their self-worth is important, but there is a point when that can actually become self-defeating...and that point is when humility gives way to pride and self-importance.

What does God think about wisdom? Well, James would say that it would be the following:

But 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.

Pure, Peace-loving, Considerate, Submissive (a favorite word for all of us, I'm sure), Merciful, Bearing Good Fruit, Impartial, Sincere...

I've got a "what if" for you - What if we lived in this day seeking after the "Wisdom from Heaven"?

What if we sought to be pure in our interactions in this day?

What if we were peace-loving in our communications? Considerate?

What if we WERE submissive? If we sought to put others ahead of our own wants and desires?

Merciful? Impartial? Sincere?

I think the possibilities for making a difference are pretty strong if this were the direction we went...

It's worth a try...

Lord, let this day be about You...not so much about me...

ENCOURAGEMENT: Seek humility, wisdom is sure to follow...

Drink that non-tasting, bland, good for you, liquid refreshment...
Walk an extra couple of steps...
Be kind, even when you don't want to...
Seek mercy...
Be blessed in this day....

[sharky67]

Humility and wisdom (much different from intelligence) go hand-in-hand. I was reading my devotional from Oswald Chambers yesterday and it spoke to this as well. I'll see if I can dig it up later.