Sowing Wisdom

We enter the time to plant.

As Winter is close to leaving us, maybe and only God knows, we enter Spring. We are seeing the signs of spring all around us: the crocuses, daffodils and other “early risers” are making their way up.

If you want a harvest you must plant good seed.

Not any seed will do, to some extent. What do you want to reap—this is the seed you must plant.

Sow wisdom from above.

This is what we could call “true wisdom”. It is not that there is not another form of wisdom. Just like in chapter 2 there is a form of faith and belief that does nothing so to is it the same with wisdom.

Matthew 7:17 NIV

Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Our way of life should be marked by meekness.

This is the way of Jesus. In James’ day this was no more desirable than it is today. Meekness has a gentleness, a desire to learn, rightly thinks of themselves, is aware of power and the temptation to abuse it.

Bitterness can appear as zeal.

Zeal is not always a bad thing; as it comes from some truth. However we can be zealous and cause division and disruption because we have to make sure someone else knows what is wrong. James uses a tough word here that I like to think of as a “harsh zeal”. This is the zeal Paul talks about in Philippians 3 as not being good.

Focusing on the self too much.

This is at the heart of selfish ambition. This is what causes us to think more highly of ourselves. This is where all sin can start from—thinking we “deserve” something.

This “wisdom” is demonic.

I wish I could say things a different way but to be honest to what James says there is no way around it. Where bitterness, selfish ambition, a harsh zeal, an uncontrolled tongue, a fruitless faith, an unstable person, and an anxious heart is the completion of a faith which the demons and Satan possess—good for nothing.

But this is not the goal of our faith.

We must see this to be true. Yes we may need to be zealous for the Lord but the goal is different.

This wisdom produces peace—shalom.

It will also produce righteousness. This is the final destination, the goal of wisdom. Shalom is an all emcompassing trait of the OT.