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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

Wisdom from Above

 

Summary

Earthly wisdom is fraught with the human ego; true wisdom is transcendent. (James 3:17)

 

Context

• Wisdom’s opposite
• God’s wisdom…is NOT seeking revenge
• THIS is wisdom!

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

Having spent hours searching the internet for recent news stories regarding wisdom, it became clear that it is much easier to discover what it is not. For a refreshing narrative on the source of true wisdom, read 1 Kings 3:5-14.

Solomon, after succeeding his father, David, to the throne doesn’t ask to become a dictator with unlimited power and no morals. He doesn’t ask for the death of his enemies or great riches. Rather Solomon asks the Lord for a wise and discerning mind in order to govern Israel rightly.

How many current — or recent — leaders of countries fit that description? Wisdom doesn’t come with the job; neither does it simply “happen” to us after many years. According to scripture, it is a gift, which must be earnestly sought.

The letter of James makes it abundantly clear that there are two sorts of wisdom. There is the earthly sort (3:14-15), which seeks personal gain, is arrogant and masquerades lies as truth. And then there is the “wisdom from above” — the sort of wisdom for which Solomon prayed. Such wisdom is peaceable and gentle, full of good works and grace. It seeks to follow a godly path.

As an “ex-American” who left the US for the UK during the Vietnam war due to government lies and deception, this writer feels the US is in even more dire straits with the advent of Trumpism and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

Consider these two verses from James 3: “But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth… For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.” (vss 14 & 16) They seem to have been written for just such a time as ours and encapsulate the Trump movement. Just like the 1930s in Germany, millions of American “christians” (lower case deliberate) believe Trump to be the messiah. How much of Jesus’s words and actions must be disregarded to come to that belief? How is such self-deception possible?

 

Questions for discussion

• What constitutes wisdom for you? Is it simply possessing the four “cardinal virtues” (Temperance, Justice, Prudence and Fortitude) or is it something more?
• Have you known anyone you considered to be truly wise? If so, what qualities does or did that person possess?
• Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Did he mean that as a free-for-all wherein any description fits? (i.e. Jesus as a gun-carrying, misogynistic liar.) Jesus, in fact, knew who he was/is. How do we answer his question? What difference will our answer make?

 

Revd Dr Jack Lawson is a freelance writer and novelist: Doing Time, No Good Deed, Criminal Justice, The Woods and Dirty Business. His newest novel, Joab (Wipf & Stock), is based on the life of King David. For more information visit: www.jacknlawson.com; https://jacknlawson.com/blog; https://wingsepress.com/pages/lawson-jack-n

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

If you have a young person who’s on TikTok, or has a friend who is, you may have noticed they’ve recently been singing “That’s just not my problem” when issues arise. This trending meme music comes from a song by the artist Laila! and is doing its rounds across the video-uploading platforms.

Although it is more often than not sung in jest, the pain caused by dismissing someone's struggles is always real, and our Bible verse this week stands in complete counter-culture to that.

In James 3:17 it says that the wisdom that comes from God is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. When you find someone who has forgotten their lunch, mercy and good fruit calls us to help. When you see friends arguing, peace-loving calls us to bring reconciliation. And when a neighbour works nights, consideration calls us to keep our music down.

Choosing God and choosing wisdom means that actually other people’s struggles very much are our problem. How can we reflect these heavenly wisdoms in our lives? Are there any barriers such as pride, envy, selfish ambition, or even a lack of empathy getting in the way? Let us bring these things to God in prayer this week.

Lindsay Wright is based in Lancashire and is a freelance designer and writer at www.lwcreative.co.uk

 

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