THE WISDOM OF GOD (3)
THE WISDOM OF GOD (3)
James 3:17 (NASB)
17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
Continuation:
D. Godly wisdom is Placid—3:17c
James 3:17c (NASB)
17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
????The word “gentle” means “placid, sweet reasonableness, moderation without compromise.” It carries the idea of being prepared to see the best in the worst people and willing to forgive them instead of condemning them. It is having gentleness without weakness. The gentle person does not deliberately cause fights but does not compromise the truth in order to keep the peace. He is a person of steel, but also velvet. The gentle person will stand firm for his convictions but will be tolerant when it comes to his preferences. Convictions are something we are willing to die for, no matter what, but we are not willing to do this when it comes to our preferences.
?E. Godly wisdom is Pliable—3:17d
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James 3:17d (NASB)
17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
????Godly wisdom is “easy to be intreated.” This phrase comes from the Greek word eupeithes {yoo-pi-thace'} which means “easily obeying, compliant, approachable, open to reason, or teachable.” This word is a military word. A good soldier knows how to receive and execute orders. The person who is “easily intreated” is willing to listen and knows when to wisely yield. He is not stubborn, but willing to listen to godly reason and appeal. He is ready to obey the Lord in his life. The opposite of this is being stubborn, argumentative, and rebellious.
Some folks are stubborn like the man, who during the presidential election, put a bumper sticker on his car that read, “My Mind is Made Up! Don’t Confuse Me with the Facts!” I have met people like this when you try to reason with them that there are other good Bible translations besides the King James Version. They do not want to hear the facts of history, what the kjv translators believed, and what the Greek and Hebrew words reveal about the kjv translation. Their minds are made up and they don’t want to hear the truth even when it is staring right at them in the face. They are not teachable or pliable.
F. Godly wisdom is Pardoning—3:17e
James 3:17e (NASB)
17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
????The phrase “full of mercy” means “to be controlled by mercy.” The word “mercy” comes from the Greek word eleos {el'-eh-os} which means “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.” In ancient Greek religions “eleos” or “mercy” was considered to be a god who stood as the personification of “compassion and sympathy.” In Athens, in the Stoa, there was an altar consecrated to Mercy where the persecuted, even among the strangers in Athens, could find refuge and exemption from taxation, and where they could have freedom to speak and do as they wish. That was the conception of “mercy” by the ancient Greeks. Aristotle speaks of mercy as the grief one feels from someone suffering unworthily.
Biblical mercy has pity that results in practical help. An ounce of help is worth a ton of pity. Mercy gets involved with those in need. It was the Good Samaritan that showed mercy to the beaten Jew. He got involved in his life and met his needs (Luke 10:25-37).
The lawyer wanted to talk about neighborliness, but he was unwilling to be a neighbor and help someone. God’s wisdom is practical! It brings forth ACTION!