James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.
James contrasts the “wisdom from below” with the “wisdom from above.” Open almost any self-help book on how to get ahead in the world and you’ll find good solid doses of wisdom from below. Such wisdom is first impure, then aggressive, ruthless, open to cunning, devoid of mercy or eternal value, cocksure and insincere. It has its eyes firmly fixed on this passing world and is rooted in the conviction that the sensible, practical person will grab what can be gotten in this life while heaven (if there is one) is a consolation prize for losers. Such a view of life inevitably blinds us to what matters most and lays us open to the grave danger that, when some unlikely “loser” stands before us and declares, “For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice”, we will not have the wisdom to fall at his feet, but will instead only toss off some shallow flippancy like, “What is truth?” Let us ask God for his wisdom that we may forsake our pride and our eyes may be open to his revelation in the “losers” of the world.