Siblings,
I don’t know about you, but it seems that wise counsel isn’t as readily available as before. Maybe we’ve silenced the wise, or it is no longer an aspiration of many. Worse yet, we might assume that machines offer us the best counsel in our lifetime. The jury is out on that one. Did you realise that wisdom is a lifestyle? Yes indeed. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
James 3:17 NIV
[17] But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Wisdom Lifestyle
Long before any of us was born, especially in societies with oral traditions, it was assumed that wisdom was a byproduct of age. In a sense, those systems are correct. Some of our wisdom is gleaned from experience. And that is valuable to others, especially those who are involved in similar pursuits. I’d say we each must pursue those sages.
But, some counsel has other origins. And, when we’re seeking advice, it is worth checking the source, for, what looks like wisdom might be a bit tainted. Or, worse yet, the motive behind the advice isn’t pure. Our Nougat seeks to offer advice on discerning truly wise counsel.
Self-Check
What criteria do we use in seeking good counsel, and what governs us in offering counsel?
Application
After a very serious discourse on the terror of an untamed tongue, James explains that wisdom is a lifestyle. It is a way of life and not an assumed status. He challenged his readers to examine their lives before assuming the status of the wise. He indicated that we must neither be subject to jealousy nor selfishness, as their end product is disorder and evil (see verses 14-16).
What he then offers us, is wisdom rooted in the Fruit of God’s Spirit. I concur, not all traces of the Fruit are mentioned; but an invitation to pursue peace, gentleness, mercy, and kindness points us to the Fruit of God’s Spirit.
And why not? Isn’t that wisdom that we seek: the true, pure, and sincere wisdom; originating from God? If so, it stands to reason that godly wisdom reflects God’s Spirit dwelling in us. In that case, it seems that as we pursue wisdom – whether for our lifestyles or in seeking godly counsel – we ought to be attuned to God’s Spirit. Also, we should seek to be so aligned with God that the Fruit is visible in our lives.
Before you tell me you’re not seeking to be wise, that you’re only seeking wise counsel, allow me this one comment. As representatives of Y’shua, wisdom ought to be a given in our lifestyle. So yes, we must seek to be wise even as we sometimes seek wise counsel.
Point to Ponder
How willing are we to offer wise counsel, and do we measure up to the wisdom lifestyle?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
