Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year OneSample

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

Whose wisdom are you receiving?

James exposes the wisdom of this world, which is driven by self-gratification (James 3:14-16). Conversely, God's wisdom begins with purity. The Greek word for "pure" carries the notion to be free from impurity or contamination. Whereas this world's wisdom is "self-seeking," the wisdom that derives from heaven is "gentle," which means to be yielding and unassertive. James then uses another term carrying a similar idea as translated by "willing to yield." These two terms stand in sharp contrast to "envy and self-seeking" (James 3:16). Children of God imitate the nature of the unsaved by exhibiting the latter. Paul admonishes the Corinthians, "For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3).

Employment Point: Seek God's wisdom and exhibit His holy nature.