I recently read a book on philosophy that came highly recommended for its brevity and humorous style. After the first chapter, I realized it wasn't a funny book but a mean, bitter book that was at war with Christ. The joke was on anyone who disagreed with the author, namely Christians. James 3:13-18 tells us if you have knowledge and wisdom but also have bitter envying and strife in your heart, you lie against the truth you say you believe. It's counterfeit wisdom because there is God's wisdom and the Devil's wisdom.
Wisdom is the right use of good knowledge. It's navigating this world, making sound judgments, discerning the situation, avoiding the bad or choosing the good. There are other kinds of "wisdom" or a false way of living. How do we tell which is which? Every heretic says he has a Bible verse.
One way to distinguish between God's wisdom and the Devil's wisdom is to see the fruit. Since wisdom is the application and the use of knowledge, watch and consider where that wisdom is taking you. If envy and strife are in your heart, then you are lying against the truth. If you are lying against the truth, how can you rightly use and exercise truth? The answer is you won't. The fruit of your "wisdom" will be fighting, strife, envy, and confusion, leaving a trail of evil in your wake.
On the other hand, God's wisdom comes from above. This heavenly wisdom is from God and taught and given to Christians by the Holy Spirit through the Bible. This knowledge is from the Bible but worked in the heart and mind by the Spirit. When you have this wisdom, which works itself out, you'll see purity, peacefulness, and gentleness. God's wisdom leads a man to admit when he's wrong. This wisdom will not be hard-hearted when shown wrong and will be thankful for someone who tells them they are wrong (Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 12:1). Someone with true wisdom wants to go the right way. The Devil's wisdom would rather continue on the wrong path than to be corrected. God's wisdom is full of mercy and abundant in good fruits. Heavenly wisdom takes sides with the truth, no matter who is on the other side. The Devil's wisdom is a party spirit and will be partial to friends, family, and colleagues. Heavenly wisdom is without hypocrisy. When there is a war to win, and the only goal is to win, then a casualty of the war is sincerity and truth. The Devil's wisdom will make you dig in your heels and fight and lie to yourself and others, presenting a false front to win the war. God's wisdom will lead to sincerity.
When you live by the wisdom of God, you are a peacemaker. You desire that men and women come to Christ and find rest for their souls in the forgiveness of since, by grace, through faith in Him. This is the good news of the King, and we want people to know the peace of God. The fruit of that righteousness is sown in peace. Are you making peace or war? Is the goal truth or winning by any means necessary? True love will fight for the truth and defend it. True love will give no ground to error or heresy. It's not peace at all costs. True wisdom will desire all people, even our enemies, to come to the knowledge of the truth. True wisdom wants to be right and in the right way, and will listen to feedback and be willing to listen and accept criticism and not dismiss it straight away.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
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